Iranian Solid Gold Ring With A Carved Carnelian Stone

Sassanid period, 4th–6th centuries A.D.

A rare solid-gold ring attributable to the Sassanid Empire, preserved with its original engraved carnelian. It is a remarkable example of the goldsmithing and gem-carving of late antique Iran, a period during which intaglio rings served as prestige jewelry, personal seals, and protective amulets.

The oval setting holds a beautiful orange-red carnelian, perfectly fitted to its ancient mount. The stone is engraved in intaglio with a highly stylized zoomorphic motif, likely a scorpion, whose body is rendered as a series of chevrons while its appendages radiate symmetrically on either side. This type of schematic representation is characteristic of many Late Antique Eastern intaglios.

In the traditions of ancient Iran, the scorpion is a well-known symbol in Sassanid seal engraving and may serve a protective (apotropaic) function. Engraved seals were worn as much for their symbolic value as for their administrative or personal use.

The setting, crafted from ancient gold, features an elegant, slightly domed bezel as well as a small lateral granule, a detail found on certain ancient rings. The perfect harmony between the stone, the setting, and the overall wear suggests that this is a single, intact piece that has remained unchanged since antiquity.

Thanks to its authenticity, the quality of its preservation, and the presence of its original intaglio, this ring is a valuable testament to the art of jewelry-making in Sassanid Iran.

Details

• Origin: Iran

• Period: Sassanid Empire, 4th–6th centuries CE

• Materials: Solid gold and engraved carnelian

• Design: Stylized zoomorphic motif, likely a scorpion

• Height: 2.5 cm

• Ring size: 56

• Weight: 6 g

• Condition: Excellent state of preservation; very beautiful antique patina

• Provenance: Former French private collection