Ancient Roman Seal Ring with Carnelian Intaglio Showing a Fish
19
days
11
hours
07
minutes
54
seconds
Current bid
€ 5
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 230 - € 280
 | €5 |
|---|
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An ancient Roman bronze seal ring from the 1st–2nd century AD features a reddish-orange carnelian intaglio engraved with a fish in profile.
AI-assisted summary
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.
An ancient Roman bronze seal ring with a broad hoop expanding into an elongated oval bezel. The bezel is set with a reddish-orange carnelian intaglio engraved with a fish shown in profile. Its fins, tail and elongated body are rendered with clearly incised details.
The ring will be delivered in a jewellery box, a perfect gift for any occasion.
-> Engraved gemstones were widely mounted in Roman rings and combined personal adornment with a practical function. An intaglio could be pressed into wax or clay to produce a raised impression, allowing the ring to serve as a personal seal.
Outside diameter: ± 20,5 mm
Inside diameter: ± 16,9 - 14,2 mm
Bezel width: ± 11 mm maximum
Condition
Good solid condition, wearable. Earthy brown patina with areas of green oxidation and surface deposits. The carnelian shows minor edge irregularities, surface wear and a small area of light-coloured accretion. Minor surface irregularities and signs of wear consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request for all lots with a hammer price of €100 or higher.
-> In Roman culture the fish symbolized fertility, abundance, wealth, protection and divine association. Owning a fishpond was a status marker among the Roman elite, and certain fish were luxury foods in Roman dining culture. They often appeared in mosaics and banquets as signs of abundance.
Fish were connected to Venus (born from the sea) and to Neptune/Poseidon, reinforcing themes of love, water and the power of the sea.
By the late Roman/early Christian period, it evolved into a secret emblem of faith and eternal salvation.
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.
An ancient Roman bronze seal ring with a broad hoop expanding into an elongated oval bezel. The bezel is set with a reddish-orange carnelian intaglio engraved with a fish shown in profile. Its fins, tail and elongated body are rendered with clearly incised details.
The ring will be delivered in a jewellery box, a perfect gift for any occasion.
-> Engraved gemstones were widely mounted in Roman rings and combined personal adornment with a practical function. An intaglio could be pressed into wax or clay to produce a raised impression, allowing the ring to serve as a personal seal.
Outside diameter: ± 20,5 mm
Inside diameter: ± 16,9 - 14,2 mm
Bezel width: ± 11 mm maximum
Condition
Good solid condition, wearable. Earthy brown patina with areas of green oxidation and surface deposits. The carnelian shows minor edge irregularities, surface wear and a small area of light-coloured accretion. Minor surface irregularities and signs of wear consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request for all lots with a hammer price of €100 or higher.
-> In Roman culture the fish symbolized fertility, abundance, wealth, protection and divine association. Owning a fishpond was a status marker among the Roman elite, and certain fish were luxury foods in Roman dining culture. They often appeared in mosaics and banquets as signs of abundance.
Fish were connected to Venus (born from the sea) and to Neptune/Poseidon, reinforcing themes of love, water and the power of the sea.
By the late Roman/early Christian period, it evolved into a secret emblem of faith and eternal salvation.
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
1st-2nd century AD
Name of object
Seal Ring with Carnelian Intaglio Showing a Fish
Acquired from
Auction house
Year acquired
2026
Country acquired from
Poland
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Auction house
Previous owner - year acquired
2026
Previous owner - country acquired from
Poland
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
