26/05/2026
[LOT 4] A RARE BYZANTINE GOLD OPUS INTERRSAILE RING WITH DOVES & CORSS, 7TH-8TH CENTURY A.D.
A substantial Byzantine gold ring of broad hoop form, finely worked in opus interrasile openwork. The ring has a strong, rounded silhouette, with the pierced decoration giving lightness to what is otherwise a notably solid and weighty jewel.
The ring would have been worn as a personal ornament, but its imagery is clearly Christian in character. The Greek cross served as a direct expression of faith, while the doves may be understood as symbols of peace, purity, and the Christian soul. The acanthus leaves, inherited from Classical ornament, were frequently absorbed into Late Antique and Byzantine decorative language, where natural forms were adapted to frame sacred and protective motifs.
A closely related example is recorded in the British Museum, accession number AF.308. The present ring comes from a Private British Collection, acquired in the late 1990s, and thence by descent. Diameter: 2.3 cm Weight: 14 g Private British Collection, acquired in the late 1990’s.
Estimate: £3,000 - £5,000
Sale Details:
Ancient Art
29 May 2026 13:00 BST
London, United Kingdom
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