ring stone

MB 18807

Object type intaglio

Culture/period Roman world

Materials cornelian

Technique engraving

Mint

Production date

Museum Museu de Badalona

Current location Exposició permanent

Archaeological site

Township Badalona (Europa, Espanya, Catalunya, Barcelona, Barcelonès)

Dimensions 1 x 0,5 x 0,3 cm

Description

Flat oval ring stone with a greyish-blue colour on the engraved part and white on the bottom. Ring stones are called carvings because they are engraved very precisely. This one has as the engraved decoration of a pyxis, a small circular box that contained cosmetics, widely used for this and other functions in Greco-Roman dressing tables. The engravings had two functions: as decoration of a jewel and as a seal or signature. They were closely related to the person wearing them. Because of the decoration, this could have belonged to the owner of a cosmetics workshop.

Omeka ID 1916