On loan to The Met The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Octahedral Diamond Ring
Not on view
Diamonds were highly prized in the Roman world. They were used in their raw state, as octahedral gems, because techniques for cutting them had not yet been invented. The only source of diamonds was India, and only small numbers reached the Roman world through trade. Here, the special character of the stone is highlighted by the elegant architectural setting, which lifts the gem high above the hoop. The first recorded modern owner of this spectacular ring was Louis de Clercq (1836–1901), a French photographer, archaeologist, and an avid collector of antiquities.
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