Ancient gold ring with mask
Price: on request
Sold
Object number
AR2680-B01
| Object: |
Ancient gold ring with mask
|
| Material: |
Solid gold.
|
| Period: |
1st cent. AD to 3rd cent. AD. Roman period. |
| Description: |
The fingerring is made of gold and consists of a band that is broader at the front side. That side is decorated by three circular attachments, a central mask with mouth wide open, big eyes and grotesque nose, and to each side of it a decorative element made of slightly off-centric rings. Attribution of this ring is difficult. Such ring bands were used in Roman times, but the decoration has only more distant parallels in that era and the mask is untypical and not one of the popular theater masks. |
| Dimensions: |
20mm x 17mm inside, 21mm x 22mm outside.
|
| Condition: |
Good condition. Ring band bent and more rectangular than circular. Decorations and material itself complete.
|
| Provenance: |
Acquired by us in 2019 from the estate of professor Ritschel, Austria. Exported with the approval of the Austrian federal monuments office. Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Ritschel acquired his collection between 1960 and 1970 from international art dealers. Professor Ritschel played an important role for the culture and historical heritage of Salzburg in Austria. He supported the town's cultural development with great commitment. For example, he sponsored the restoration of the Franciscan Church. As a president of the local museum association he was playing a key role in the erection of the Salzburg Museum in the Neue Residenz. The author and brilliant writer manifested his interest in history in over 50 books and 500 columns telling the story of Salzburg. He lived his passion to communicate history to a broader public. For his achievements Karl-Heinz Ritschel was decorated many times, for example in 1995 when the Republic of Austria awarded its Decoration for Science and Art. Also his private collection of ancient art was impressive, focussing on Roman pottery, glass, bronzes and portraiture. We have taken great care to prepare the apparently unpublished pieces with our usual high claim to quality. Now we would like to give them back to the commitment and care of a well-managed collection. |
| References: |
This unusual type of ring has some similarity to the following specimen from the 1st and 3rd century AD. Similar G. Zahlhaas, Die Sammlung Marie-Luise und Dr. Thomas Dexel, p. 40, no. 42. Similar D. Scarisbrick, Rings, p. 131, no. 180. |
| Authenticity: |
We unconditionally guarantee the authenticity of every artefact, all items are subject to our lifetime return policy on authenticity.
|