Ring

The Roman intaglio on this ring is made of layered glass, imitating the more expensive layered agate. It is likely that the Rev. Townshend was aware of this and bought the ring as an interesting imitation of a stone. The intaglio shows Cupid, the god of love, and a bird.

This ring forms part of a collection of 154 gems bequeathed to the V&A by the Reverend Chauncy Hare Townshend, a cleric and poet. Sir A. H. Church gave additional specimens in 1913. He also compiled the first catalogue Precious Stones: A Guide to the Townshend Collection. The first edition appeared in 1883. The stones are mounted as rings, although they may not have been intended to be worn.