BYZANTINE GOLD RING INLAID WITH NIELLO DEPICTING THE VIRGIN MARY AND CHRIST Ca. AD 500 - 700. A gold ring featuring a discoid bezel joined to a solid round-section hoop and decorated with a niello-inlaid design of Mary Theotokos and infant Jesus. The Virgin Mary is depicted holding a disc containing the bust of Christ as a child. The composition has letters either side of the Virgin. HAG - OEOT. For similar see: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Object Number: 17.190.1654. Size: D:18.34mm / US: 8 1/4 / UK: Q; Weight: 7g. Provenance: Private UK collection; from an old British collection formed in the 1990s. This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter. This piece is accompanied by an authentication statement by Sami Fortune, ancient jewellery specialist.