An intaglio can carry almost any picture. Three motifs on RingDesire pieces have long stories: the Roman profile, which is the classic subject of ancient gems; the stag head, which belongs to Artemis and to medieval legend; and the merkaba, a star shape with a Hebrew name that means chariot.
This guide tells each story and points to the pieces that carry the motif. For the carving technique itself, start with What Is an Intaglio?. The motif names follow the product titles, and the listings are the best guide to what each piece shows.
The Roman profile
A head in profile is one of the oldest subjects in carved gems and on coins. A profile reads clearly in a very small space: one outline, one line for the brow and nose, and no need for the face to be turned. Roman gems showed gods, heroes and portraits in this way, and rulers wore them as seals. The emperor Augustus used seal rings cut by a master engraver.
The Grand Tour travellers of the 18th century brought such gems home, and later jewellers copied the look. That story is in Grand Tour Jewellery and the 18th Century Craze for Glass Intaglios.
Pieces in a Roman or Greek Roman style:
- Clear oval intaglio earrings in a Grand Tour Roman style
- Blue intaglio cocktail ring in a Roman style
- Green glass intaglio necklace in a Greek Roman style
The stag head
The stag has been a symbol for thousands of years. In Greek and Roman myth it is linked with Artemis, known to the Romans as Diana, the goddess of the hunt. In the myth of Actaeon, a hunter who saw the goddess bathing was turned into a stag by her.
In the Middle Ages the stag took on a Christian story. According to legend, a hunter saw a cross shining between the antlers of a stag and was converted. The story is told of both Saint Eustace and Saint Hubert. The stag also appears in heraldry, where a mature stag is called a hart.
The stag head intaglio earrings in a Victorian style carry a stag's head as their motif, as the title says.
The merkaba
Merkabah, or merkavah, is Hebrew for chariot. Jewish mystical tradition later used the word for the vision of a divine throne carried on a chariot, described in the book of Ezekiel. In modern sacred geometry the name merkaba is also given to a star made of two interlocking triangles, which in three dimensions is a pair of interlocking tetrahedra.
We describe the shape and its sources. We do not claim any effect for it, and what it means is for the wearer to decide. Pieces that carry the motif:
- Blue merkaba intaglio earrings in a Victorian pearl style
- Clear merkaba intaglio earrings with sacred geometry
- Green merkaba intaglio earrings with sacred geometry
- Brown merkaba intaglio earrings in a Victorian style
All of the earrings are in the intaglio earrings collection.
How to choose a motif
- Choose the story you like. A motif is worn every day, so choose one whose story you enjoy telling.
- Choose the outline. A profile is calm. A stag head has height and antlers. A merkaba is a clean, geometric star.
- Choose the colour. The motif carries the meaning and the colour carries the mood. For help, read the colour guide.
- Think about the occasion. A profile in a ring or a pair of oval earrings works every day. Stag drops and merkaba earrings suit someone who wants a talking point.
Other motifs in the collection
The same carving technique is used for many other motifs. The laurel wreath and the fleur-de-lis each have their own collections, with the history of each explained in their guides. The honeybee has its own story in The Honeybee on Ancient Coins.
Reading a carved motif
Look at the outline of the motif first. In a small stone the picture is simple, and in a larger stone there is more room for detail. A clear stone shows the carved lines most sharply. A deeper colour reads as one rich colour at a distance, and the picture appears as the light moves through the glass. The same motif can look very different in each colour, so the colour you choose changes the piece as much as the picture does.
One honest note
Every piece is made by hand, so the carving and the colour may differ a little from the photograph. That is normal. If a motif matters a great deal to you, look at the product page closely before you order.
Each piece is made to order and sent in a gift box. It is dispatched within 2 to 5 business days and arrives 15 to 20 days after you place it, dispatch included.
Frequently asked questions
What is a merkaba?
Merkabah is the Hebrew word for chariot. In Jewish mystical tradition it refers to a vision of a divine throne-chariot. In modern sacred geometry the name is given to a star made of two interlocking triangles.
What does a stag symbolise?
In Greek and Roman myth the stag is linked with Artemis and Diana, the goddess of the hunt. In Christian legend it appears with a cross between its antlers, in the stories of Saint Eustace and Saint Hubert.
Why are ancient gems carved in profile?
A profile reads clearly in a very small space. One outline carries the whole portrait, which is why it was the standard way to show a person on a gem or a coin.
Do the pieces carry a spiritual meaning?
We describe the history of each motif and leave the meaning to the wearer. We do not claim any effect for a motif.
Can I wear these every day?
Yes, with a little care. Put them on last, take them off first, and store them in their box.