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A Large Roman Chalcedony intaglio set in a later massive 22k ring. Jupiter and Mars.

£ 3500

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A Large Roman Chalcedony intaglio set in a later massive 22k ring. Jupiter and Mars.

£ 3500

Chalcedony intaglio; later 22k gold mount.
Intaglio 13 × 17 mm; ring size US 8 (UK P½ / EU 57); weight 12.31 g.
Intaglio: Roman art, 2nd–3rd century A.D. Later mount.

An important Roman chalcedony intaglio depicting Jupiter and Mars, set in a later 22k gold ring with an open oval bezel. The stone, of a fine milky translucency, carries a two-figure composition of remarkable legibility — an allegory of Roman military supremacy.
Mars stands helmeted, spear raised, his hand resting on his shield. Facing him, Jupiter, draped, holds the sceptre and extends the patera; at his feet, the eagle, his bird. The two gods are framed by military standards (signa) composed of stacked lunulae and terminating in hands (manus), the ensigns of the Roman maniples. Groundline.

Iconography
The meeting of Jupiter, guarantor of sovereign order, and Mars, god of war, between the standards of the legions composes an allegory of military supremacy placed under divine protection. Jupiter's extended patera sacralises the scene — libation and pact between the power of the gods and the force of arms — while the eagle, attribute of Jupiter and emblem of the legions, binds the two registers together.

The standards
This type of standard with open hand and lunula refers to the signa militaria of the Roman legions. The hand, in bronze or silver at the top of the shaft, represented loyalty and divine protection; it also alluded to the military oath (sacramentum) binding the soldier to his legion. It was frequently associated with the lunula and with decorative discs of phalerae type, stacked along the shaft. The lunula, for its part, was a good-luck symbol.

Comparanda
Detail of a Roman marble bas-relief showing the standard formed of lunulae, phalerae and hand, 3rd century, church of San Marcello al Corso, Rome.
 

POSSIBLE RESIZING : YES

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Each piece of jewellery is delivered with an authentification certificate signed by Bianca Massard and Gabriele Vangelli de Cresci experts, including additional documentation if existing and exhaustive description of the piece.
Pictures are part of the description and show state of conservation of the item. For additional pictures please contact us. (see contact section)

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Each piece of jewellery is delivered with an authentification certificate signed by Bianca Massard and Gabriele Vangelli de Cresci experts, including additional documentation if existing and exhaustive description of the piece.
Pictures are part of the description and show state of conservation of the item. For additional pictures please contact us. (see contact section)

Shipping and pick-up at the store options can be chosen during check out.

Our exclusive delivery partner is ThePackengers.
ThePackengers, specialized in the packaging and transport of works of art and collectibles, already collaborates with the largest auction houses as Drouot, but also with galleries, fairs, antique dealers, decorators and e-marketplaces.
See our Country List
Shipping Terms and Conditions.
Privacy Policy ThePackengers.

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