An ancient intaglio ring of Apollo, 1st century B.C., Roman

1st century B.C. Roman amethyst intaglio ring of Apollo depicted with long hair, within engraved oval-shaped gold mount with tapered ornate trefoil shoulders.

Later 1860s mount.

Provenance

Said to be from Cologne.
Paul von Praun (1548-1616), Nuremberg and Bologna; thence by continuous descent within his family. 
Sibylle Mertens-Schaaffhausen (1797-1857), Cologne and Rome, acquired from the above, 1839.
Catalogue des collections laissées par feu Madame Mertens Schaaffhausen, seconde partie, J.M. Heberle (H. Lempertz), Cologne, 12 July 1859, lot 510.
M.H. Story Maskelyne (1823-1911), Wroughton, Wiltshire.
William Arnold-Forster (1886-1951), Cornwall and London, acquired from the above.
Catalogue of the Story-Maskelyne Collection of Ancient Gems, the Property of W.E. Arnold Forster, Esq., Sotheby's, London, 4-5 July 1921, lot 96.
with Spink & Son, London, acquired from the above (according to auctioneer's book).
Giorgio Sangiorgi (1886-1965), Rome, acquired and brought to Switzerland, late 1930s, thence by continuous descent to the current owner.

Bibliography

C.W King, Antique Gems: their Origin, Uses and Value, London, 1866, pp. lix, 41.

C.W King, Antique Gems and Rings, vol. 2, London, 1872, p. 49, Pl. 15, no.1.

C.W King, Handbook of Engraved Gems, London, 1885, p.227, Pl. 48, no.2.

Burlington Fine Arts Club Exhibition of Ancient Greek Art, London, 1904, p.189, no.46, Pl. 108.

Exhibited

London, Burlington Fine Arts Club, Exhibition of Ancient Greek Art, 1904.

Price on application

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This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

Condition report