GREEK HELLENISTIC GOLD RING WITH EROS AND PSYCHE INTAGLIO 4th-1st century BC A gold ring with round section hoop coming to a point to the base; oval bezel with Greek key pattern to the shoulder and set with a cabochon carnelian engraved with Eros (Cupid) looking up and holding a bow, wings to the back, to the front of Eros a butterfly (symbol of the soul of Psyche) with broken arrow to the top. 11.66 grams, 27.61mm overall, 22.57mm internal diameter (approximate ring size British Z + 1 1/2, USA 13 1/4, Europe 31.00, Japan 30) (1 1/4"). Condition Extremely fine condition. A large wearable size. Provenance Private collection, North London; acquired in the early 1990s. Footnotes Cupid and Psyche is a story originally from The Metamorphoses (also called The Golden Ass), written in the second century AD by Lucius Apuleius. It concerns the overcoming of obstacles to the love between Psyche, representing the soul, and Eros, representing divine love, and their ultimate union in a sacred marriage. Although the only extended narrative from antiquity is that of Apuleius, Eros and Psyche appear in Greek art as early as the fourth century BC. The story's Neoplatonic elements and allusions to mystery religions accommo
GREEK HELLENISTIC GOLD RING WITH EROS AND PSYCHE INTAGLIO 4th-1st century BC A gold ring with round section hoop coming to a point to the base; oval bezel with Greek key pattern to the shoulder and set with a cabochon carnelian engraved with Eros (Cupid) looking up and holding a bow, wings to the back, to the front of Eros a butterfly (symbol of the soul of Psyche) with broken arrow to the top. 11.66 grams, 27.61mm overall, 22.57mm internal diameter (approximate ring size British Z + 1 1/2, USA 13 1/4, Europe 31.00, Japan 30) (1 1/4"). Condition Extremely fine condition. A large wearable size. Provenance Private collection, North London; acquired in the early 1990s. Footnotes Cupid and Psyche is a story originally from The Metamorphoses (also called The Golden Ass), written in the second century AD by Lucius Apuleius. It concerns the overcoming of obstacles to the love between Psyche, representing the soul, and Eros, representing divine love, and their ultimate union in a sacred marriage. Although the only extended narrative from antiquity is that of Apuleius, Eros and Psyche appear in Greek art as early as the fourth century BC. The story's Neoplatonic elements and allusions to mystery religions accommo
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
