Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Mastery of Design: The Victory Intaglio Ring, 1810

Gold Ring of Rose-cut Diamonds and a Carnelian Intaglio Depicting Victory
Roman intaglio.  Mount: 1810.
The Victoria & Albert Museum




Dating to 1810, this gold ring is mounted with an intaglio of carnelian cut with a representation of Victory as a winged figure driving a chariot.  During the Nineteenth Century, the taste for intaglios cut with classical subjects was once again fashionable for gentlemen.   

The golden shoulders of the ring widen to an oval bezel of rose-cut diamonds set in silver around the intaglio.  The intaglio may, in fact, be an ancient carving, possibly of Roman origin.  

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