Gold ring with a priestess, 5th - 4th century BC

An exceptional ancient gold ring engraved with a priestess.

Greek, early 5th - early 4th century BC.

Ring size L UK / 5.75 US.

The bezel measures 2 x 1.3cm.

Weighs 8.4 grams.

Provenance: Private English Collection, formed between the late 1970’s - early 1990’s.

The gold ring has an almond shaped bezel and a hoop of rounded diamond shaped cross section, the reverse of the bezel with a chamfered edge. The intaglio on the bezel is engraved with an elegant woman wearing a himation and chiton dress, standing facing dexter, her head is crowned with a polos crown. She appears to be stood before a thymiaterion and making an offering of incense, a single wisp of smoke passing between her hands.

A comparable example can be found in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, accession number: M.552-1910.