RARE BYZANTINE OPEN-WORK GOLD RING DEPICTING FOUR CROSSES

Ca. AD 400 - 500. A rare 21.5 ct Byzantine openwork gold ring. The ring is fashioned with a pierced round hoop of three horizontal bands ornamented with punched dots, enclosing four circular openwork medallions, each containing a cross. For similar see: Catalogue of the finger rings, early Christian, Byzantine, Teutonic, Medieval and later, Franks Bequest, n. 132. This piece has undergone X-ray fluorescence analysis to confirm the metallurgical content suggesting its ancient origin and lack of modern trace elements. This piece comes with an authentication report by Sami Fortune, ancient jewellery specialist. Size: D:17.12mm / US: 6 3/4 / UK: N; Weight: 9g Provenance: Private Central London collection; ex. UK art market 1990s. This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter.