Antique Classical Greek Cameo Gold Ring

This strikingly unique statement ring is a refined Neo-Classical hardstone cameo ring, dating to the late 18th to early 19th century, and depicting an idealized Greco-Roman philosoph...

A very unusual antique gold ring set with a carved brown and white hardstone cameo depicting the theatrical comic mask of Silenus, the Greek mythological old rustic god of wine-making and drunkenness. The ring was made in the late 19th century and carries French control marks for 18K gold, whilst the cameo is probably Italian and made slightly earlier, circa 1800. Silenus was a companion to the wine god Dionysus, and suitably he was a notorious consumer of wine, usually drunk and supported by satyrs or carried by a donkey. Silenus was described as the oldest, wisest and most drunken of the followers of Dionysus, and was said to possess special knowledge and the power of prophecy when intoxicated. He presides over the other satyrs and is related to musical creativity, prophetic ecstasy, drunken joy and drunken dances. Silenus was usually depicted as a jovial old man, bald yet bearded, with a pot-belly, thick lips and snub-nose. The masks worn to play him in theatre really emphasised these features, as you can see with this cameo carving Theatre was a key part of ancient Greek culture. The theatrical masks worn by the actors, known as ‘prosopon’, served various purposes. They enabled individual actors to play multiple roles (or genders) in the same performance; the exaggerated expressions helped define the character being portrayed; they helped spectators in the back rows to tell the characters apart. This particular masked as mentioned before is a comedic Silenus, please see final photo for other examples of Silenus masks in museum collections. UK size N 1/2, US size 7 4.84g 18K gold French ‘tête...

This exceptionally rare and large ancient Greek sardonyx cameo dates to the late Hellenistic period, and features a carving of Dionysus, the god of wine ...

Emperor Cameo Ring in 18 karat gold. Antique ring set with a large oval cameo in three-layered agate, depicting the profile of a man, likely an emperor, wearing a laurel wreath. The ...

We really love hard stone cameo rings and this is perhaps the nicest we have had to date. The ring mount is crafted from 18 karat yellow and rose gold and has been rub over set with ...

4k Gold Plated 925 Silver Ring with Carved Mother of Pearl – Greek Goddess Painted Cameo Jewelry - Miniature portrait with antique woman ring - Antique, victorian style ring with wom...

18Kt gold ring set with a cameo on lavender chalcedony stylizing a profile of a man with a waving beard, the setting on five wires and openwork hearts. Top size is 23mm x 21mm Finger...

This antique ring is made in 14k gold and features a rectangular cameo at its center. The cameo is carved in relief from layered stone, with a white portrait of a woman set against a...

18K gold ring adorned with a claw-set cameo showing the face of an antique-style man with full beard and wavy hair. Top size cameo is 26mmx 18mm.French maker's mark. Ring size: 8 3/4...

Antique Cameo Ring 18ct Gold Stamped Circa 1880 Lovely, Victorian hardstone cameo ring. Features an oval framed portrait of a person with a be...