Plasma ring stone
Unknown Artist
ca. 1st century BCE–3rd century CE
Medium
Plasma
Dimensions
Other: 3/8 x 1/8 x 1/2 in. (0.9 x 0.4 x 1.3 cm)
Classification
Gems
Culture & Period
Roman · Late Republican or Imperial
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of John Taylor Johnston, 1881
Accession Number
81.6.100
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Plasma Ring Stone*, dating to around the 1st century to 3rd century CE,ails from Roman Late Republican or Imperial periods and exemplifies the artistry of ancient gem engraving. Crafted from plasma—a vibrant reddish variety of quartz prized for its deep, fiery hue—this tiny intaglio measures just 3/8 x 1/8 x 1/2 inches (0.9 x 0.4 x 1.3 cm), perfectly suited for a signet ring. Likely depicting male figures (as suggested by its tags), it would have been carved in relief to create a seal for wax impressions, blending practicality with personal expression. In Roman culture, such g...