- Ring
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Ring
- Place of origin:
Europe (west, made)
- Date:
ca. 1600 (made)
1st century (intaglio) - Artist/Maker:
Unknown
- Materials and Techniques:
Gold enamelled in black, set with a sapphire intaglio of the Medusa
- Credit Line:
The Salting Bequest
- Museum number:
M.553-1910
- Gallery location:
British Galleries, room 56e, case 10
Object Type
The shoulders and sides of the bezel (head) of this ring are decorated with scrolls on a black enamel ground. The very fine sapphire intaglio (the design engraved into the stone) is Graeco-Roman, dating from the 1st century AD.
People
The range, antiquity and splendour of the objects Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel (1585-1646) acquired put him on a par with great European collectors. As well as paintings and drawings of the greatest importance, he collected works of the classical period. These included cameos and intaglios. He might have acquired this gem on one of his frequent journeys on the Continent or he might have bought it through an agent. His principal agent was the tireless William Petty (possibly born in 1585, died 1639), who in 1638 purchased for Arundel the gem collection of the Flemish dealer Daniel Nys in Italy.
The Arundel Collection gems passed by descent to Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough (1706-1758), himself a great collector of engraved gems.The Marlborough Collection was later sold at Christie's auction house on 28 June 1875.
Subjects Depicted
The sapphire is engraved with the head of Medusa. In Greek mythology she was one of three sisters, the Gorgons, whose terrifying appearance turned those who saw them into stone. She was beheaded by the legendary hero Perseus.
