Origin: Egypt
Circa: 664 BC to 30 BC
Dimensions: 0.750" (1.9cm) wide x 1" (2.5cm) depth
Collection: Egyptian Art
Style: Signet Ring
Medium: Bronze
Condition: Extra Fine
Stirrup-shaped signet rings in a variety of materials make their earliest appearance in Egypt during the course of the New Kingdom and continue in popularity until the end of the Ptolemaic Period. These rings are characterized by a thick shaft crafted as a piece with the oval-shaped bezel which is often inscribed in sunk relief with either a name or a motto. Our signet ring appears to be a Late Period variation of the type, to judge from the shape of its shank and bezel, which is inscribed a motto consisting of three hieroglyphs arranged vertically in its center. The middle hieroglyph is decoratively ornamented with the addition of two ostrich feather at its top and two uraei, or sacred cobra, with flaring hoods at its bottom. One can tentatively suggest that our motto is to be translated as, “The possessor of beauty is the god Ra,” with emphasis placed on the single hieroglyph, “beauty,” by virtue of the feathers and cobras. (LO.1146) References: Compare a signet ring of stirrup-shape in gold inscribed for one of the Ptolemaic rulers of Egypt, in Carol Andrews, Ancient Egyptian Jewellery (London 1990), page 165, figure 148 h. - (LO.1146)

Antiquities
Ancient Jewelry