Roman Empire, circa 2nd-3rd century AD. The small ring tapering toward the base of the shank and set with a domed garnet engraved with a bird in profile.

Provenance: The collection of The Zelnik Istvan Southeast Asian Gold Museum. Institutional art collection in Belgium, acquired from the above. Dr. Istvan Zelnik, President of the Hungarian South and Southeast Asian Research Institute, is a former high-ranking Hungarian diplomat who spent several decades in Southeast Asia, building the largest known private collection of Asian art in Europe.
Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age. Expected wear, small dents, light tarnishing, microscopic losses, encrustations.

Weight: 1 g
Dimensions: Width 1.7 cm

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's New York, 8 December 2016, lot 73
Price: USD 4,375 or approx. EUR 5,300 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Roman gold and garnet finger ring, circa 3rd century AD
Expert remark: Compare the related form and garnet stone. Note the size (1.5 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's New York, 5 December 2015, lot 402
Price: USD 3,500 or approx. EUR 4,300 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Roman gold and garnet finger ring, circa 2nd century AD
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and garnet with similar incision work. Note the size (2 cm).