Finger Ring
Unknown Artist
3rd century
Medium
Gold, carnelian intaglio
Dimensions
Overall: 7/8 x 1/2 in. (2.2 x 1.2 cm) intaglio: 3/8 x 1/4 in. (0.9 x 0.6 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Gold
Culture
East Germanic
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.192.210
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite finger ring, dating to the 3rd, hails from East Germanic culture and exemplifies the fine metalwork of early tribal artisans. Crafted from gold, it features a carnelian intaglio carved gemstone measuring just 3/8 x 1/4 inches (0.9 x 0.6 cm)—set into a delicate band of 7/8 x 1/2 inches (2.2 x 1.2 cm). The intaglio, where designs are incised into the stone for as a seal or personal emblem, highlights the wearer's status and craftsmanship during a period of cultural transition between Roman influence and emerging Germanic traditions. In the turbulent 3rd century, East Germanic peo...