A Fine Greek Finger Ring Set with a Garnet Intaglio of a Lion

Period: 2nd Century BC - 1st Century AD

Origin: Greece

Medium: gold and garnet

Provenance: Acquired from an important collection of antiquities, including ancient rings, 
2021
Ex St. James Ancient Art, London
Ex Canadian collection 
Ex Private collection

Literature: A Hellenistic gold finger-ring set featuring an oval garnet intaglio intricately engraved with the image of a standing and left-facing lion. This vivid depiction conveys a profound sense of power and vitality, qualities for which the lion held significant prominence in Greek art and royal iconography. Symbolising strength, authority, and divine protection, the lion’s image was a recurring motif.  
     The garnet is securely set within a double-oval bezel, which is seamlessly integrated into a substantial, rounded hoop. The distinctive construction is characteristic of the work of late Hellenistic goldsmiths, particularly in the eastern Mediterranean region, where intaglio engraving flourished as both an ornamental element and a personal signature. Rings of this type were worn by individuals of high social standing, harmoniously combining technical expertise with symbolic potency.