Gold Ring With A Shell Cameo Of Socrates In Profile. Italian, 18th Century.

Gold ring with a shell cameo of Socrates in profile. Italian, 18th century.
A gold ring set with a shell cameo of Socrates in profile.

Italian, 18th century.

Cameo measures 2.3 x 1.6cm.

The later high carat gold ring is a size P 1/2 UK / 7 3/4 US.

Ingeniously, chips to the top and bottom have been repaired with mother of pearl, a hark back to gold repairs on classical gems.

Image 8-9/10 is a similar hard stone cameo in the British Museum, catalogue number; .315, described as:

Cameo; onyx; head of Socrates to right; mounted in modern gold ring.

Production date: 18thC

Image 10/10 is an etching in the British Museum, catalogue number; 1872,1012.1677, described as:

Portrait of Socrates, head in profile to right, after an antique cameo; illustration to 'Gemmae antiquae caelatae', or 'Pierres antiques gravées' (Amsterdam: Bernard Picart, 1724).

Print made by: Bernard Picart

Production date: 1719