This looks like a carved intaglio or cameo seal stone, likely made from carnelian (or possibly amber-colored glass/paste). These were commonly used in rings or seal stamps to emboss wax.Here’s what can be said based on the image alone:
✅ What it is
A carved seal stone depicting a bearded man in profile wearing a soft cap or hat. The carving style resembles:
- Renaissance or early-modern European portrait motifs
- Or a classical revival style (18th–19th century) These stones were used in:
- Signet rings
- Wax seal stamps
- Decorative jewellery The smooth translucency and color are typical of carnelian, though glass imitations were also widely produced.
📅 Approximate age
Based on visible carving style (clean, shallow relief) and the uniform, polished material:
- Most likely 1800s–early 1900s
(when mass-produced neoclassical seal stones were very common) Could also be: - As late as mid-20th century if it's glass
- Less likely pre-1700 unless the carving quality is much finer than it looks in the photo Older (Roman etc.) examples tend to have:
- Deeper, more refined intaglio lines
- More anatomical detail
- Different portrait styles Your piece looks more like a 19th-century neoclassical revival seal stone.
💰 Is it valuable?
Probably modestly valuable unless it’s:
- Genuine high-quality carnelian
- Finely hand-carved
- Mounted in an original antique gold ring In typical unmounted condition:
- Glass seal stones: ~n80
- Carnelian seal stones (hand-carved): ~n200
- Exceptional pieces: can run into the hundreds The value depends on:
- Material (glass vs stone)
- Hand-carved vs molded
- Historical context (is it part of a signet ring?)
- Detail level Your example looks simple and relatively shallow, suggesting:
- Probably not ancient
- Likely decorative / 19th century
- Value: low to moderate
If you want a more accurate answer
Send:
- A photo backlit (to see if it’s glass or stone)
- A close-up of the edges (tool marks)
- A photo of the back
- Size/dimensions I can then narrow down:
- Whether it’s carnelian or pressed glass
- Whether the carving is handmade or molded
- A tighter date and value estimate Happy to analyse further!