An dynamic 3rd century AD Roman carnelian intaglio, set in a handmade silver and gilt ring.
The gemstone depicts an eagle preying upon a hare, an ancient motif with roots in the Greek world. Famously used on the coinage of Akragas, the image endured into the Roman period where the eagle carried associations of divine authority, victory and military power. Comparable Roman intaglios survive in museum collections, including an example excavated at Caerleon and held by Museum Wales.
This particular stone reaches heavily into the Greek tradition. Drilled in a scaraboid form reminiscent of Greek gems of the 5th century BC, the carnelian bears an unusually accomplished engraving: the eagle settles naturally over its prey, its outstretched wings creating a strong diagonal symmetry from wingtip to tail.
Named Vulcan, Roman god of fire, volcanoes and the forge, this one-of-a-kind ring brings together ancient carving and contemporary metalwork - a wearable fragment of the classical world.
