Roman Silver Ring 'Lavinia' (2nd-3rd c. CE) EU 60/US 9.25

This Roman Imperial silver signet ring, named 'Lavinia,' bears a left-facing portrait bust of a woman with an elaborately crimped and waved hairstyle — a coiffure echoing the female portraits of the Antonine and Severan dynasties. The oval bezel is framed by a fine rope border, flanked at the shoulders by small pellet ornaments, and encircled by a stepped collar, all hallmarks of Roman silversmithing from the 2nd to 3rd century AD.

Details:
Era: Roman Imperial, 2nd–3rd Century AD
Material: Silver (high-silver alloy)
Ring Size: EU 60 / US 9,25
Condition: Preserved in original state with natural silver sulfide tarnish in recesses and softened high-point wear from centuries of use and burial
Provenance: From a private Belgian collection, acquired between the 1960s and 1990s
Unique Identifier: R-195-S

Restoration and Authenticity
Offered in its original and cleaned condition with no modern repairs.
A Certificate of Authenticity is included.

Historical Context:
Silver portrait signets were intimate objects in the Roman world — used to seal documents, affirm identity, and carry the image of a loved one or patron. The crimped, wave-dressed hairstyle of the portrait places 'Lavinia' firmly within the female portrait conventions of the mid-2nd to early 3rd century AD, a period when private portrait rings flourished across the eastern provinces. As an ancient Roman signet ring collector piece, it preserves both the technical mastery of provincial workshops and the personal iconography of its original wearer.

Why This Piece?
'Lavinia' is a rare example of wearable antique jewelry with engraved iconography — a genuine portrait signet whose softened features and silver patina speak to nearly two millennia of continuous presence. Its documented provenance and period-diagnostic form make it a compelling acquisition for serious collectors of Roman jewelry.

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