This intaglio is set in a 24 karat gold rin
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 the 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 eighteenth century Europe the allure of jewelry based on classical models inspired a powerful demand, which was met by a few very expert engravers. Artisans such as Jacques Guay (1711-93) and Giovanni Pichler (1734-91) made exhaustive studies of ancient statuary to create intaglios that equalled or excelled the ancient masters. This very lovely intaglio depicts a beautiful youth with curly hair. He bears some resemblance to Caius and Lucius Caesar, the grandsons of the emperor Augustus. However, his exact identification is not necessary to enjoy the splendid artistry of the engraving, and the beauty of the rich red carnelian radiant as fire, the fire of eternal youth. To wear this gorgeous ring of gold is to possess both power and refinement, qualities of the person who is impressive in any century.