Ancient Roman Jasper Intaglio with a Portrait of a Woman

A finely carved and excellently preserved jasper intaglio from the Ancient Roman period that depicts the portrait of a woman. Pictured in a profile stance, the noble woman wears a loosely-draped tunic, while her plaited hair is fixed into a neatly arranged bun. Some slaves would specialise in curling and plating hair along the top or back of the head. These simplistic hairstyles were common during the early years of the Roman Empire, fake curls were also popular. As the years progressed, more elaborate hairstyles were desired. The reverse of this piece is highly polished and has been left undecorated; such simplicity allows for appreciation of the richly coloured semi-precious stone and mineral inflexions, as well as its bevelled-cut edges.