About this lot

Description

the oval, faintly banded, cornelian depicting the head of a man in his prime, possibly an emperor, profile facing right, in a reeded mount and plain tapered shank, size approximately S; also included in the lot is the hardback Christie's catalogue from June 1899 of the sale of The Marlborough Gems, at which, by family tradition, this ring was bought

Footnote: Provenance: Along with the aforementioned catalogue is a contemporary newspaper cutting explaining that this huge collection in 739 lots, principally of intaglios and cameos, was amassed by the 3rd Duke of Marlborough in the 18th century. It amalgamated his own enthusiastic and knowledgeable collecting in Europe with the acquisition of the collections of the early 17th century Earl of Arundel, the Earl of Bessborough, the Earl of Chesterfield, and of 'Medina, a Jew at Leghorn' (Livorno, Italy). It had previously been put forward for sale by Agnews on behalf of Mr David Bromilow in 1875, when it was bought en bloc for the reserve price of £35,000 (the valuation was done by 'the eminent expert Signor Castellani' - famous today for his exquisite jewellery often inspired by, and sometimes incorporating, elements from classical antiquity). The present ring was bought at this sale; thence by descent for 120 years.

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