Ave!

Ring Stone, Carnelian, Flying Wasp, ca. 3rd Century BC - 3rd Century AD

Carnelian; 11mm/0.6gm.

Con/ As engraved and polished in blood-red carnelian.

Description/ Insect (wasp) flying to right,

Provenance/ Collected in the early 1970's near Ephesus, Turkey.

Seller's Note/ This exquisite carnelian cabochon was most likely sourced from mines in either Egypt or Arabia then traded to Ephesian gem merchants, where it was shaped, engraved and polished. Whether or not it was ever set into a ring is moot, although in shows no sign of any use whatsoever.

Truly spectacular, this remarkable gem is worthy of the most discerning collection.