The Yevdayev Collection of ancient rings comprises 59 superb examples from Egypt Phoenicia
Persia Greece Etruria and Rome dating from the second millennium BC to the fourth century
AD. The rings are of many different shapes most made of gold or silver and often set with gems
but some are carved from semiprecious stone amber and shell. The collection begins with four
Egyptian rings of the New Kingdom period of various types and materials including an amethyst
scarab set in a gold swivel-ring a ring carved from cornelian with the cartouche of Pharaoh
Thutmose III and a silver ring with the name of Amenhotep II. These are followed by rare
examples of a Hittite gold ring and a Persian ring carved from shell. There is a good selection
of Phoenician rings dating from the seventh to fifth century BC including rings in gold and
stone scarabs set in rings. Other unusual rings include Persian examples of the Achaemenid and
Sasanian period a unique diamond ring that is likely Kushan a Central Asian ring in Scythian
style and a gold ring with South Arabian inscription. Greek and Roman rings are particularly
well represented. Classical Greek rings dating from the fifth and fourth centuries BC include
examples in gold with engraved bezels bezels decorated with filigree and granulation and a
rare ring with a swivel bezel decorated with figures in gold foil under glass. Hellenistic
rings dating from the third to first centuries BC are often set with large and fine gems
often engraved and hoops carved in architectural style. There is also a Hellenistic ring
carved from black glass and a fine example of a gold snake ring decorated with an emerald. The
Roman rings date from the time of Augustus in the late 1st century BC to the fourth century AD.
Many of the rings are gold set with finely engraved gems in amethyst cornelian green
chalcedony red jasper and nicolo and include important portraits of Agrippina Senior in cameo
and Septimius Severus in chalcedony. Other rings are set with rare gems including an
aquamarine and a diamond. There are also rings carved from other materials including rock
crystal and amber. The catalogue concludes with gold rings of the later empire (third-fourth
century AD) typically with large carved gold hoops and unengraved gems. The rings in the
Yevdayev collection are notable not only for their exceptional design and craftsmanship but
for their rich imagery engraved on the rings and gems. The publication will appeal to both
students of ancient art and history and to collectors and lovers of jewelry and fine art. The
accompanying text places the rings in their historical and artistic context and provides
valuable technical observations.
