A Gold Swivel Ring Set with a Heliotrope Intaglio of Hector, Andromache, and Astyanax

Period: 18th century

Origin: Italy, Vatican

Medium: gold heliotrope

Provenance: Ex Private English collection
Ex Private collection

Literature: A distinguished Grand Tour swivel ring crafted in gold, meticulously set with a finely engraved 18th century heliotrope (bloodstone) intaglio. The intaglio depicting Hector, Andromache, and their son Astyanax, figures central to the tragic events of the Trojan War. The gem showcases the helmeted Hector in profile, accompanied by smaller busts of his wife and child, rendered with exceptional clarity and sensitivity. The composition reflects the 18th century neoclassical admiration for Homeric themes, translating ancient virtue and pathos into miniature form. The mount is equipped with a swivelling mechanism, enabling the gem to rotate within its gold frame, a characteristic feature of Grand Tour jewellery. The ring bears the 18th century Vatican City hallmark of crossed keys, indicating manufacture under Papal jurisdiction. It is likely that this ring was crafted by a Roman goldsmith catering to aristocratic travellers and antiquarian collectors.  
     A closely comparable intaglio is described in ‘Description des principales pierres gravées du cabinet de S.A.S. Monseigneur le Duc d’Orléans, premier prince du sang’ (Paris, 1787, tome II, p. 13), confirming the enduring fascination with this subject among connoisseurs of engraved gems. The present example harmoniously combines technical excellence with literary resonance, epitomising the refined elegance of Grand Tour taste.