![]() Jewelry devotees have long pined for rings adorned with reptiles, thanks to antique Victorian rings - well, specifically, Queen Victoria’s illustrious engagement ring, which took the form of a gold snake set with rubies, diamonds and an emerald (her birthstone). The serpent is now a popular motif in fine jewelry. Italian luxury jewelry house Bvlgari has become famous for its widely loved Serpenti motif, for example, and its Serpenti ring, like the other accessories in the collection, began as an homage to jewelry of the Roman and Hellenistic eras. Over time, rings have frequently taken the form of serpents, which have long been associated with eternal life, health and renewal. Rings have also forever been emblematic of eternity. They’ve carried deep meaning since at least the Middle Ages, when diamond rings symbolized strength and other kinds of rings were worn to signify romantic feelings or to denote an affiliation with a religious order. No matter their origin or specific characteristics, rings are timeless, versatile accessories. How Much are Intaglio Rings?Īntique and vintage rings have long held a special place in the hearts of fine jewelry lovers all over the world. There aren’t many items for men in our collection of intaglio rings, as most of the options available are for women. A selection of oval cut, uncut and cabochon can be found today on these pages. Lovers of these pieces agree that it’s a versatile accessory, but a selection from our variety of 145 Carnelian versions can add an especially stylish touch. Many examples in our inventory of these items are appealing no matter their origins, but Chushev, Elizabeth Locke and Diane Griswold Johnston produced popular versions that are worth a look. ![]() Our collection of intaglio rings includes designs that are universally popular, but Victorian and Georgian styles, specifically, are sought with frequency. Our inventory has long been popular, and it includes earlier versions that date to the 18th Century and newer variations that were made as recently as the 21st Century. Our selection of items includes 491 vintage examples as well as 70 contemporary versions. These distinct designs - crafted with great care and often made from Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold - can elevate any look. after all, one of the best meals I had in Italy was a wild board stew.Find an expansive variety of intaglio rings available on 1stDibs. Deal only with a dealer with a long and respected reputation.įor me, I'd be satisfied with that little red boar in the photo at the beginning of this article. And one of Hercules on a carnelian ring was recently estimated to fetch $120,000-$180,000 at Christie’s New York.Īlso, be aware that in the world of buying ancient artifacts, there are forgeries-both stonesĪnd rings can be forged. A carnelian ring carved with Alexander the Great in the guise of Hercules, his head draped in a lion’s skin, was sold by Bonhams in London for £55,200. Portraits and mythological tableaux fetch a higher price. Christies London sold a black jasper intaglio of a huntsman leaning on his staff, with a dog, for £1,188 last year. For this reason, many ancient rings are much smaller that we would require. You see, in Roman times, rings tended to be below the second knuckle, unlike how we wear them, above the second knuckle joint. Keep in mind that if you want to invest in a ring to wear, you must really try it on first. There are even unmounted stones that you can purchase and have mounted in a setting created by your own jewelry designer. There are a surprisingly number of them available through specialist jewelers and auction houses. Harder gemstones were later used to aide the craftsman in cutting more precise detail into the stones that would last.īelieve it or not, you can invest in and enjoy ancient intaglio rings today. Seals were used in the Ancient Near East from about 3400BC for over three thousand years, with primarily softer gemstones being used. Their origin can be traced to the Sumerian period in Mesopotamia. At that point in history, there was no such thing as a written signature. ![]() Although many were worn and collected simply as mementos, in ancient Rome they were often used as signet rings, with businessmen and political leaders with enormous power and wealth using them to sign documents by transferring their impression into a hot dripping of wax. Unlike the technique of carving cameos, which creates a bas-relief image sitting above a flat background, intaglio carves the image into the stone, below the flat surface. Starting from 5000BC right up to modern times, gemstones with images carved into them by artisans, then mounted onto finger rings, have been are among the most highly desirable treasures to own and wear. ![]()
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