Western Europe, Neoclassical period, ca. 19th century CE. A beautiful carnelian intaglio of a janiform gryllus in the form of 2 opposite-facing heads of bearded men set in a gold ring. The ovoid gem is set in a raised bezel, while the ring presents a double band and an openwork shoulder with a central bauble. The term "gryllus" is often applied to intaglios with fantastic combinations of human heads and animal parts. The term is actually derived from a remark made by Pliny about a painter, Antiphilos, who "painted a figure in an absurd costume known by the joking name of Gryllus" (i.e. a cricket). The interpretation of combination gems is not always clear but there is no doubt that they were considered to have apotropaic or prophylactic properties. Size of intaglio: 0.4" L x 0.3" W (1 cm x 0.8 cm); of ring: 0.9" Diameter x 0.5" W (2.3 cm x 1.3 cm); US ring size: 8.5; gold quality: 72% (equivalent to over 17 karats); weight: 8.7 grams

Provenance: private Danvers, Massachusetts, USA collection, acquired by descent; ex-USA collection, acquired before 2000

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#179192

Some very light scratches to gold, but otherwise intaglio and ring are both intact, excellent, and wearable with nice remaining detail.