Ancient Roman Silver Seal Ring with Carnelian Bacchus Intaglio
Starting bid
€ 1
Add to your favourites to get an alert when the auction starts.
Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 430 - € 500
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 143397 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Description from the seller
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Ancient Roman silver seal ring with a broad, flat hoop set with an oval carnelian intaglio. The gemstone is bezel-set within a smooth silver mount and engraved with a reclining nude male figure in a relaxed pose, holding a wine cup in one hand. The figure is likely representing the Roman god Bacchus (Dionysus) or a Dionysian subject.
The carnelian displays a rich translucent red-orange tone, highly valued in Roman glyptic art. The intaglio engraving is finely cut, allowing the image to appear in relief when impressed into wax, indicating its function as a personal seal. The ring band is wide and flat on the interior, tapering slightly towards the bezel.
Outside diameter: ± 24,5 mm
Inside diameter: ± 21,6 x 17,8 mm
Condition: intact and wearable condition. Surface wear consistent with age and use. Minor abrasions to the silver hoop. The carnelian intaglio remains securely set with light surface wear commensurate with age.
Certificate of Authenticity (PDF-format): available upon request.
-> Carnelian was one of the most popular gemstones in the Roman world due to its durability and warm colour. Intaglios depicting mythological or genre scenes were widely worn as both decorative jewellery and functional seals.
Rings of this type reflect Roman taste for classical imagery and demonstrate the skill of ancient gem engravers, offering insight into personal identity, status and cultural affiliation within the Empire.
-> Bacchus (Greek: Dionysus) was the Roman god of wine, fertility, theatre and ecstatic celebration. He was associated with pleasure, liberation and the transformative power of wine. Often depicted as a youthful, sometimes androgynous figure, he appears nude or lightly draped, frequently holding a drinking cup (kantharos) or a thyrsus staff entwined with ivy.
In Roman culture, Bacchus symbolised abundance, vitality and joyful excess, and his imagery was popular in art, jewellery and domestic decoration.
Catawiki disclaimer:
This object has been carefully examined for its material and surface characteristics.
Laboratory analysis (e.g. XRF) is not routinely undertaken in private collecting, and destructive testing is avoided as it causes permanent damage to archaeological material.
Before modern hallmarking, gold and silver alloys varied depending on local resources, recycling practices and economic conditions.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Ancient Roman silver seal ring with a broad, flat hoop set with an oval carnelian intaglio. The gemstone is bezel-set within a smooth silver mount and engraved with a reclining nude male figure in a relaxed pose, holding a wine cup in one hand. The figure is likely representing the Roman god Bacchus (Dionysus) or a Dionysian subject.
The carnelian displays a rich translucent red-orange tone, highly valued in Roman glyptic art. The intaglio engraving is finely cut, allowing the image to appear in relief when impressed into wax, indicating its function as a personal seal. The ring band is wide and flat on the interior, tapering slightly towards the bezel.
Outside diameter: ± 24,5 mm
Inside diameter: ± 21,6 x 17,8 mm
Condition: intact and wearable condition. Surface wear consistent with age and use. Minor abrasions to the silver hoop. The carnelian intaglio remains securely set with light surface wear commensurate with age.
Certificate of Authenticity (PDF-format): available upon request.
-> Carnelian was one of the most popular gemstones in the Roman world due to its durability and warm colour. Intaglios depicting mythological or genre scenes were widely worn as both decorative jewellery and functional seals.
Rings of this type reflect Roman taste for classical imagery and demonstrate the skill of ancient gem engravers, offering insight into personal identity, status and cultural affiliation within the Empire.
-> Bacchus (Greek: Dionysus) was the Roman god of wine, fertility, theatre and ecstatic celebration. He was associated with pleasure, liberation and the transformative power of wine. Often depicted as a youthful, sometimes androgynous figure, he appears nude or lightly draped, frequently holding a drinking cup (kantharos) or a thyrsus staff entwined with ivy.
In Roman culture, Bacchus symbolised abundance, vitality and joyful excess, and his imagery was popular in art, jewellery and domestic decoration.
Catawiki disclaimer:
This object has been carefully examined for its material and surface characteristics.
Laboratory analysis (e.g. XRF) is not routinely undertaken in private collecting, and destructive testing is avoided as it causes permanent damage to archaeological material.
Before modern hallmarking, gold and silver alloys varied depending on local resources, recycling practices and economic conditions.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Details
Culture
Ancient Roman
Century/timeframe
2nd-3rd century AD
Name of object
Seal Ring with Carnelian Bacchus Intaglio
Acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Year acquired
2026
Material
Silver
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Previous owner - year acquired
2026
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
