Fine Hardstone Cameo Of Socrates in a Gold Ring, c. 1890 & Later

Greek philosophy stands at the cradle of Western civilization and continues to have an impact today. From the sixth century BC onwards, Greek thinkers developed models of the world that offered rational explanations beyond mythology. The names Socrates, Plato and Aristotle in particular are still regarded as the epitome of ancient wisdom. This ring pays homage to ancient philosophy. It bears a hardstone cameo in a gold setting. The two-tone agate shows the head of Socrates in a detailed cut. The curly beard and hairless head stand out wonderfully against the dark background. Deep wrinkles on the forehead give the thinker a brooding look. The depiction follows the convention of depicting the thinker that has been handed down since antiquity, which was widely used in marble busts and later copperplate engravings, cf.e.g. here. The cameo was cut and set in gold at the end of the 19th century. At the end of the Victorian era, antiquity was still regarded as a great model and stone carving with motifs of famous personalities or mythological figures flourished. Originally, the thinker probably adorned an embroidery pin or a cufflink. Later, the simple ring band was added, and this is how the ring we have here today was created. We discovered it as it is in London.

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