Description

The gold ring has an onyx gemstone in a simple setting. The stone, which is built up in two layers of different colors, is worked as a Nicolo, meaning the upper light layer is oval and ground so thin that the lower, dark layer shimmers through and makes the image zone appear light blue. The raised image field is framed by the deeper black layer.

The depiction of the bird is cut into the lower layer of the stone (intaglio), so that it appears black. A bird, crow or raven can be seen running towards a single branch to the left.