This intaglio is set in an 18 karat gold ring.

The art of glyptics, or carving on colored precious stones, is probably one of the oldest known to humanity. Intaglios, gems with an incised design, were made as early as the fourth and third millennia BC in Mesopotamia and Aegean Islands. They display a virtuosity of execution that suggests an old and stable tradition rooted in the earliest centuries. The tools required for carving gems were simple: a wheel with a belt-drive and a set of drills. Abrasives were necessary since the minerals used were too hard for a metal edge. A special difficulty of engraving intaglios, aside from their miniature size, was that the master had to work with a mirror-image in mind.
In every age and throughout the world horses have probably been the most admired and coveted of all animals. They were regarded as status symbols of wealth in ancient times, beloved by artists for their grace, dignity and noble stature. These qualities are remarkably evident on this fine intaglio; the horse's body is very nicely engraved, its legs delicate but strong, with the front left leg raised and the head turned to look behind, exposing the elegant neck. A tree is seen to the right, and below it what appears to be a shield in the foreground. The natural glow of the carnelian gives a sense of warmth of the outdoors, where the beautiful horse can roam wild and free.