Roman Gold Ring with Sphinx
Weight: 5.76 grams
Size: 3.5 (U.S.) / F 1/2 (U.K.)
A solid gold ring featuring a thick hollow-formed shank with a carinated outer profile, tapering slightly toward the rear. The bezel is set with a garnet cabochon, carefully engraved in intaglio with a depiction of a winged sphinx standing on a baseline, the mythological creature rendered in profile with clearly defined wings and leonine body.
The ring’s sculptural shape and refined proportions are typical of early Imperial Roman jewelry, with the high-profile bezel allowing the intaglio to function both decoratively and potentially as a personal seal. The sphinx—a figure with a lion’s body and human head—was a popular motif in Roman art, often evoking themes of mystery, wisdom, and protection.
A fine example of Roman craftsmanship combining utility, mythological symbolism, and opulence in a single object.