South Italian, An Italic banded agate intaglio with the 'dextrarum iunctio' set in a modern gold ring, circa 1st century BC

The oval agate gem banded in black and white, engraved with clasped right hands in the 'dextrarum iunctio' and flowers, set in a modern 18 carat gold ring

Provenance

Swiss private collection, DDB, Switzerland, formed from the 1960s onwards

Literature

The dextrarum iunctio is an image of two clasped right hands. It symbolised concordia (harmony), affinity, friendship, and loyalty (Tac. Hist. 1.54.1, 2.8.2) and was often used to signify such between married couples. For other intaglios showing the dextrarum iunctio, cf. Beazley archive gem no. 1043: J. Tassie, Ancient and Modern Engraved Gems, Cameos as well as Intaglios, 1716, 94, no. 1043, tray 17.1, 17.3.

South Italian

Further images

Provenance

Literature