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A collection of 101 rings, The Ceres Collection, which range in date from as early as 400 BC were sold for over £3,000 at a Bonhams auction.
The collection of cameo and intaglio rings performed better than expected, ending with a total lot of more than £300,000, triple its pre-sale estimate. Every article was successfully sold.
The majority of rings sold for double their pre-sale estimate while a number of pieces soared to over 20 times higher than expected.
The rings featured designs of historical and mythological figures, with Roman gods and goddesses carved into semi-precious stones and set into gold mounts.
The top loot in the collection was an 18th-19th Century octagonal intaglio ring showing the portrait of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Mounted in gold, the ring was estimated at £1,000 to £1,500 but sold for £31,250.
Another highlight was an ancient Roman onyx cameo fragment dating from the 1st or 2nd century AD, which showed a Roman lady of high rank, and was sold for £25,000.
Emily Barber, director of jewellery at Bonhams in Bond Street said: “The Ceres Collection is probably the most significant collection of cameos and intaglios to be seen on the market for several generations.
“The sale sparked international interest amongst collectors and connoisseurs of engraved gems as well as buyers who are new to this fascinating subject. The strong selling prices achieved accentuate just how rare it is for collections of this type to come up for auction.”
