Etruscan Gold Bezel Rings: Typology, Production and Iconography

This study concentrates on Etruscan gold bezel rings of the Archaic and Classical periods, analysing them through typological, iconographic, and technical-productive perspectives. Defining the scope of the investigation is essential, as the broader subject of Etruscan rings encompasses a range of materials and forms. Scarab and swivel rings have received considerable scholarly attention and catalogued extensively, while fixed bezel types remain comparatively under-explored. Furthermore, rings made from varied materials such as bronze, silver, and iron, have been treated collectively. This study concentrates specifically on gold as the primary decorative material, whether in the form of solid or gold-plated examples. Within this refined corpus, distinct typological groups are apparent and there is evidence of active workshops producing fixed bezel rings within Etruria.