ROMAN WEDDING GOLD RING WITH ONYX CAMEO OF CLASPED HANDS
A traditional Roman marriage – Fede ring with bezel design of two clasped hands. Decorated with filigree and granulation.
Gold wedding rings became especially prominent in the 3rd and 4th century. During this period, gold rings became more elaborate and sumptuous, an indication of an owner’s wealth, as well as craftsman’s skill. The most common type of ring associated with Roman marriages was the ”Fede” ring, which had a design showing a pair of clasped hands or an entwined couple.
Cameos first became popular during the Hellenistic period and continued to flourish under the Roman Empire with a mixture of images mostly comprising religious symbolism or busts of private individuals and members of the Imperial family. Cameos were produced with the same basic tools and techniques as intaglios, though inverted, that is to say by cutting away excess stone around the image to create a raised relief. The time and effort needed to carve a cameo is considerably greater than that required to produce an intaglio, not just because more stone must be cut away but also in fashioning a cameo in relief there is considerably less surface contact between the rotating circular tool and the convex surface of the gem
See Ruseva-Slokoska, L. Roman Jewellery, Sofia, 1991 item 187 for discussion of ‘clasped hands’ motif in Roman contexts, introduced from the Eastern Empire.
Material: solid gold and Onyx Cameo
Weight: 7,63 gram
Date: Roman, 2nd – 4th century AD
Measurement: overall: 26 x 25 mm, ringsize: 22 mm
Condition: Extremely fine condition
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