Greco-Roman
Intaglio Ring, 332 BCE - 395 CE
Chalcedony set in gold, 1.7 cm (11/16 in.)
This Greco-Roman ring has a gold, simple band and round setting for a carved inset made of dark grey chalcedony, a type of quartz. The bas relief carving in the center of the ring appears to have rough approximations of various sea creatures, including two fish, a crab and possibly an octopus. It is uncertain if this ring was used as a seal or was simply decorative.
Little Salon
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.