BYZANTINE HIGH KARAT GOLD RING WITH IMPERIAL EAGLE ENGRAVING AND NIELLO MONOGRAM Ca. AD 600. A gold ring with a plain, circular hoop supporting a broad bezel engraved with a frontal eagle, wings outstretched and head turned to the left. Above the eagle’s head is a monogram inlaid with niello, composed of a vertical shaft with crossbars and Greek letters. For similar see: The Benaki Museum, ΓΕ 1829. Size: D:18.75mm / US: 8 3/4 / UK: R; Weight: 5g Provenance: Private London collection; previously acquired from a New York private collection formed in the 1980s. This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter.