Italian, 16th century, Double-sided cameo with a profile of a male saint and Pyrrhus of Epirus. Photo courtesy Sotheby's 

the ring with a French import mark (1838-1864); sardonyx, mounted in an early-19th century gold swivel ring; cameo: 24mm., 15/16 in. ring size Z. Estimation 10,000 — 15,000 GBP

Provenance: John Crewe, 2nd Baron Crewe, Crewe Hall, Cheshire;
his sale, Hotel des Ventes Mobilières, Paris, 5-6 February 1851, lot 14;
Robertson Davies, Toronto, until 1995

The colours of the stone and the style of dress of the saint, in particular the collar, are reminiscent of the portrait of Pope Julius II in the Hermitage (inv. no. 819). The reverse probably depicts king Pyrrhus of Epirus. See a carnelian intaglio representing the King formerly in the collection of Duke Odescalchi illustrated in P. Santi Bartoli, Museum Odescalchum, sive Thesaurus Antiquarium Gemmarum…, Rome, 1752, vol. II, pp. 44-46, pl. XX).

Sotheby's. European Sculpture & Works of Art. London | 04 déc. 2013, 11:00 AM -www.sothebys.com