DATE: Cameo: Georgian, c.1820

A stunning Georgian sardonyx cameo ring dating from the early 19th Century. We believe the figure depicted is Thessalonike of Macedon, daughter of King Philip II and half-sister of Alexander the Great. She wears a crested helmet with a mermaid on the side... a reference to the Greek myth in which Thessalonike, distraught at the death of Alexander, dives into the sea in an attempt to end her own life. Instead of drowning, however, she became a mermaid. To the sailors who encountered her she would always pose the same question: "Is Alexander the king alive?", to which the correct answer would be "He lives and reigns and conquers the world!". Given this answer she would allow the ship and her crew to sail safely away in calm seas. Any other answer would transform her into the raging Gorgon, bent on sending the ship and every sailor on board to the bottom.

The cameo rests in a later 22k gold signet ring mount and, on account of its size, makes a bold statement when worn. The level of detail is incredible, and it's perfectly executed with Thessalonike rendered in white on a red backdrop.

STONES 

Sardonyx

MEASUREMENTS 

Head: 3.4 x 2.8cm

Width of band: 2.8mm

WEIGHT 

26.4g

MARKS 

No marks present, tests as 22k gold (head) and 18k gold (band)

CONDITION 

Very good, a small chip to the chest are of the cameo