It’s thought to have belonged toCaligula, the notoriously tyrannical ancient Roman emperor.
Sapphires are exceptionally hard, ranking just below diamonds on theMohs scale of hardness.
So who is this beautiful woman etched into stone?
Appropriately, it gives the impression of a portrait of Caligula’s fourthand lastwife, Caesonia.
Alas, their love wouldn’t last, with Caesoniaand her daughterbeing murdered just hours after Caligula was killed.
This is not the only piece from the Marlborough Collection to pass through Wartski.
It’s a rare portrait of the general, who is famous for his love affair with Cleopatra.
The face of the ring has a beautifully carved portrait of his wife Caesonia.
