Art Funded by you

Finger Ring

Unknown artist, 100–300

The Curdworth ring is a man's heavy solid gold finger ring set with an oval, dark-green intaglio showing Venus Victrix standing, draped and armed. Venus is shown with her back to the viewer, her drapery falling around her waist, her right elbow resting on a column, gazing at a crested helmet in her outstretched left hand, with a shield upright at her feet and a spear behind her. The ring is likely to have belonged to someone of Equestrian rank, the upper middle class of the Roman world. It is also interesting due to the green colour of the intaglio as the majority are red, often being made of carnelian. In the Roman mind green was associated with vegetation and growth, and in this context the depiction of Venus is appropriate since she was originally a goddess of gardens.

More information

Title of artwork, date

Finger Ring, 100–300

Date supported

1996

Medium and material

Gold with beryl intaglio

Dimensions

2 x 2 cm

Grant

2700

Total cost

3529

Content note: This object record is part of our archive and has not been updated since it was first published. It may contain inaccurate information or outdated language. Please get in touch if you think this record should be amended.

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