Silver ring
Unknown Artist
ca. 450–400 BCE
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Length: 9/16 in. (1.5 cm)
Classification
Gems
Culture & Period
Greek · Classical
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of W. Gedney Beatty, 1941
Accession Number
41.160.457
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silver ring, dating to around 450–400 BCE, hails from Classical Greece, a golden age of art and philosophy when Athens flourished under figures like Pericles. Measuring just 1.5 cm in length, this tiny jewel exemplifies the precision of ancient Greek metalworking, crafted entirely from silver—a precious metal valued for its luster and durability. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Greek and Roman Art Department, entered the collection through the 1941 bequest of W. Gedney Beatty is classified among gems, highlighting its role as a finely wrought personal ornament. In Cl...