DATE: Intaglio, Roman circa 100AD - Ring, vintage circa 1960
A nicolo intaglio is an intaglio in sardonyx, agate, or glass, whereby a thin lighter layer at the surface is carved away to reveal the darker background. This example dates from the 1st century AD, depicting the Roman god Mercury riding through the sky on his chariot pulled by two roosters (creatures believed, like Mercury himself, to guide the souls of the dead to the Underworld) and holding his caduceus above his head - a few tiny mortals visible on the ground beneath him. It's mounted in a 1960s high carat gold signet ring mount, the simple design perfectly complementing the ancient intaglio.
Mercury (Hermes to the Greeks) was the messenger of the Gods and protector of mortal travellers, thieves, merchants, athletes, and orators. Indeed his Roman name, Mercury, is the root of our words merchant, merchandise, and commerce. The earliest records of his worship suggests origins as a cthonic deity, strongly associated with the the earth and the underworld; he guided the souls of the deceased as the crossed into the afterlife.
Hermes/Mercury is probably my favourite character from the Greco-Roman pantheon, charming, cheeky, and cunning in equal measure. The son of Zeus and Maia the Pleiad, he acted as the emissary and herald of the Olympian Gods, aided by his winged sandals he was able to travel quickly between the mortal and divine world. He was known among the ancients as both a protector and "the divine trickster", referred to in the Illiad (where he allied with the Greeks) as "excellent in all the tricks", a "guide and guardian", and also "the bringer of good luck". The earliest known reference to Hermes is Homeric Hymn 4, which describes his birth, the theft of Apollo's beloved cattle to the delight of Zeus, and the creation of the first ever lyre from a tortoise - all before sunset on the day of his birth. An expert from HH4:
"Muse, sing of Hermes, the son of Zeus and Maia, lord of Cyllene and Arcadia rich in flocks, the luck-bringing messenger of the immortals whom Maia bare, the rich-tressed nymph, when she was joined in love with Zeus... and when the purpose of great Zeus was fulfilled, and the tenth moon with her was fixed in heaven, she was delivered and a notable thing was come to pass. For then she bare a son, of many shifts, blandly cunning, a robber, a cattle driver, a bringer of dreams, a watcher by night, a thief at the gates, one who was soon to show forth wonderful deeds among the deathless gods. Born with the dawning, at mid-day he played on the lyre, and in the evening he stole the cattle of far-shooting Apollo on the fourth day of the month; for on that day queenly Maia bare him."
STONES
Sardonyx 'Nicolo' Intaglio
MEASUREMENTS
Head: 1.7 x 1.5cm
Sardonyx: 1.4 x 1.2cm
Width of band: 4.0mm
WEIGHT
8.1g
MARKS
No marks present, tests as 14k gold
CONDITION
Very good, some surface wear to the intaglio commensurate with age. Excellent vintage gold patina
