A very impressive gold Ancient Roman ring with an amethyst intaglio. The thick gold eire form a round shank with a cone-shaped bezel contained between the two ends. The high-set bezel is decorated with twisted trail decoration and contains a light purple amethyst engraved with profiles of two men. The men represented are probably Roman consuls. The ancient Romans considered jewellery to be an essential accessory, for it provided a public display of their wealth. Roman jewellery at first followed trends set by the Etruscans, using gold and glass beads. However, as the power and spread of the Roman Empire increased, jewellery designs became increasingly elaborate. Different cultural styles from Greece, Egypt, North Africa, and the Orient were all incorporated to reflect Rome’s prosperity as a dominant, conquering city. The custom of wearing rings was probably introduced by the Sabines, who are described in early legends as wearing gold rings with precious stones. During the Roman Republic it became customary for all the senators, chief magistrates, and eventually the equites, to wear gold rings. Inner diameter: 1.6 cm, closest UK ring size: J 1/2 Weight: 5.46 g Provenance: From the late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister; formed early 1960s-1990s.