Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/364

 306 KOMAN KEY-LIKE FIXGEU INXG OF GOLD, AND spontling with tlic ])cauty of the design. (Woodcut No. 1.) Its form is a -wide hoop of flattened gokl, twelve times fluted or channelled externally, and ornamented with a foliated and pierced scroll-work edging. Each fluting has a central square j)iercing, in which one letter of the inscrip- tion is reserved in the metal, and from which the ground is entirely cut away {decoupe-a-jour). I have ventured else- where to designate this style as chaviplcvc-a-jour. It is the interrasile opus of Pliny's day, and was in use from the time of ►Severus ; an ornamentation of which I know no finer exam2)le than this ring. The inscription round the hoop reads mvltis annis, the twelfth space being occupied by a leaf; while on the upper side or chnton the words ^'^^^ occur in double line, between three plain bands of the metal. Thence projects the tongue or lift, by which, if practically serviceable, a latch may have been raised, opening the door or lid of casket, cabinet, or other treasure house, the contents of which would gladden our antiquarian eyes could wc but see them. The piercing or seeming wards of this projecting tongue, is as a diaj>er of Greek cresses, nine in number, attached by pellets of the metal, and bordered laterally with a corded edging, on the top with scroll ornament. The width of the hoop is i)ths of an inch, its diameter -gths, and the projecting tongue -|ths long b}' I'oths wide ; the weight of the ring is 192 grains. Another fine ring, ornamented with the words aemilia ZESE.s in opus interrasile, belongs to the Duke of Northum- berland, and is figured in the Archieological Journal, vol. vii. J). 11^2. In vol. xxvi., at page 141, I have described and figured a more humble example from my own collection. I have been informed that a key-ring of silver occurred among the trouraiUc at Ostia in 18.">8, but, if published, I cannot now quote the reference to it ; the jneseut is, how- ever, the only instance, of which I am aware, of a ring so forme<l in the more noble metal. I term it a k(y-like ring from its correspondence in form and character with others of the same class in inferior metal, but that it was intended Ibr use as a key may, 1 lliink, be open t(dcjubt. Thai it was fa.shioned as ;i birth-day, or New Year's gift, from one member to anotlicr, of a Christian family, of the latter half of the tliii«l or eailier years of the fourth centurv, is, I i)eheve, iiioi-e pi(.l);il)|e. The arguments