probably Italian, circa 1200 – 1300 AD
This high karat gold ring (approximately 20.95 Kt) is designed in Veneto-Byzantine medieval style. The high conical fluted bezel is set with a cabochon cut garnet. The bezel is held by two mythical creatures.
The design of this ring is recorded as early as the 6-7 centuries AD (see Byzantium and the West: Jewelry in the First Millennium by Jeffrey Spier, page 181, a gold ring with animal-head terminals and cup-shaped bezel set with garnets).
The ring offered here with its exceptionally tall conical setting is very close to the ring in the British museum (featured in the video). That ring was found in Ravenna, northern Italy, and is dated by the British museum to the 12th century.
The design of our ring could also be linked to the rings found at Chalcis, a Venetian colony on the Greek island of Euboea, presented in the British museum. Those rings are of Venetian and Byzantine origin and are dated to the 14th – early 15th centuries. Our ring appears to be closer to the 12th century ring according to its bold, clean, but elaborate design.
The ring is superbly modeled and is in a pristine condition. It is a very fine medieval jewel of a museum quality, all original, intact and wearable.
Metal analysis: 87.31% gold, 6.54% silver, 6.15% copper.
Weight: 12.31 grams
Height of the setting is 16 mm (5/8 in.)
Diameter of the bezel is 12 mm (7/16 in.)
Ring size 8.5 (19 mm) resizable
