Roman Intaglio On Nicolo Depicting Dionysus, Mounted In A Gold Ring
Bezel: 18 × 14 mm
Finger size: UK "P" (US 7½) - Weight: 9.4 g
Intaglio: Roman art, 1st century
The oval nicolo - ribboned agate whose thin, pale blue-gray top layer has been notched to reveal the underlying black layer - is engraved with a head of Dionysus (Bacchus) in profile to the left, girdled with grapevines and bunches of grapes.
The striking bichrome effect, the cool blue silhouette standing out against the dark background, is the sought-after signature of the nicolo and one of the ancient engraver's most refined tricks, taking advantage of the natural ribboning of the stone to give depth to the composition.
Dionysus, god of the grape harvest, wine and ecstasy - the youngest of the Olympians and, according to myth, the only one born of a mortal mother - is rightly crowned with the fruits and foliage of his own cult.
The intaglio is set in a high-grade gold ring, from the mid-20ᵉ century.
3 600 €
Period: 20th century
Style: Rome and Antic Greece
Condition: Excellent condition
Material: Gold
Reference (ID): 1773169
Availability: In stock
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