finger-ring; intaglio

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Object Type: finger-ring; intaglio
Museum number: 1814,0704.1292
Description: Gold finger-ring; angular hoop; oblong bezel with rounded corners, containing an engraved garnet intaglio: Herakles, beardless, attacking the hydra with his club.
Cultures/periods: Classical Greek (intaglio); Roman Imperial (ring)
Production date: 4thC BC (intagio); 2ndC (ring)
Findspot: Found/Acquired: Agrigentum
Materials: gold; garnet
Technique: engraved; intaglio
Dimensions: Diameter: 1.90 centimetres (inner); Height: 3.25 centimetres; Length: 1.30 centimetres (bezel); Weight: 25.52 grammes; Width: 1.65 centimetres; Depth: 2.80 centimetres
Curator's comments: This ring was purchased for 35 pounds in 1775 by Townley from James Byres who had acquired it from one of the many pilgrims coming to Rome from Asia Minor, Greece and Sicily. According to Byres it was found at Agrigentum (see TY 7/684).
Bibliographic references: Finger Ring / Catalogue of the Finger Rings, Greek, Etruscan, and Roman, in the Departments of Antiquities, British Museum (351); Gem / Catalogue of Engraved Gems & Cameos, Greek, Etruscan & Roman in the British Museum (603)
Location: Not on display
Exhibition history: Exhibited: 1997-1998, 13 Oct-5 Jan, India, New Delhi, National Museum, The Enduring Image 1998, 9 Feb-3 May, India, Mumbai, Sir Caswasjee Jahangir Hall, The Enduring Image 2003, 18 Oct-14 Dec, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures 2004, 17 Jan-28 Mar, Kobe City Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures 2004, 10 Apr-13 Jun, Fukuoka Art Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures 2004, 26 Jun-29 Aug, Niigata Bandaijima Art Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures 2005, 11 Apr-10 Jul, Seoul Arts Centre, Treasures of the World's Cultures 2005, 25 Jul-8 Oct, Busan Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures 2005-2006, 27 Oct-31 Jan, Haengso Museum, Keimyung University, Daegu, Treasures of the World's Cultures 2006, 18 Mar-4 Jun, Beijing, Capital Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures 2007, 3 Feb-27 May, Taipei, National Palace Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures 2021 19 Jun-7 Nov, Australia, Perth, Western Australian Museum, Ancient Greeks 2007,14 Sep-2 Dec, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Treasures of the World's Cultures 2009, 1 May-20 Sep, Victoria, Royal BC Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures 2009-2010, 11 Dec-10 May, Madrid, Canal de Isabel II, Treasures of the World's Cultures 2017, 13 Jul-15 Oct, Madrid, Caixa Forum, Ancient Greeks 2017-2018, 23 Nov-18 Feb, Barcelona, Caixa Forum, Ancient Greeks 2018 20 Mar-24 Jun, Sevilla, Caixa Forum, Ancient Greeks 2018 24 Jul-4 Nov, Zaragoza, Caixa Forum, Ancient Greeks 2018-2019 18 Dec-31 Mar, Palma, Caixa Forum, Ancient Greeks
Subjects
Associated names: Representation of: Herakles/Hercules; Representation of: Hydra
Acquisition name
Previous owner
Acquisition date: 1814
Department: Greek and Roman
Registration number: 1814,0704.1292
Conservation: Treatment: 07 Aug 1997; Treatment: 03 Aug 2010; Treatment: 28/01/2020

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