Lost Owl Ancient Cat Intaglio Ring
This wacky cat face has been etched into my mind since I first saw it a few years ago when browsing intaglios in The Met's online collection. Forming the base of a carnelian stamp seal, it was carved around 3600 years ago in Bronze Age Crete by a Minoan and likely used as a personal signature to make an impression in wax or clay. The nose and eyes are strikingly reminiscent of the neolithic cup-and-ring rock art - the petroglyphs - we have in the UK.
This Lost Owl signet ring is our take on the Minoan cat. The ring is vintage, dating from 1970, and the cat is intaglio carved in onyx.
DM for details ✌️
[Carnelian stamp seal, Minoan (Crete), ca. 1900-1600 BCE. On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 171, acc. 26.31.167]
[Sketch of the Mossyard Cup-and-Ring Stone, Sir Herbert H. Maxwell, 1900. Maxwell's description of the stone: "Cup and Ring-marked Slab…found in a dyke on the farm of Mossyard, Anwoth, Kirkcudbrightshire. This cup-and ring-sculpturing is peculiar in having five rings round the central cup crossed by a gutter which ends in another cup from which gutters also proceed to right and left, each terminating in a cup."]
Ring size: P or 7.75 US. Resizeable for £55.
Head size: 16.2mm by 13.6mm
Weight: 5.5 grams
Stone: Onyx intaglio
Hallmarks: English, Birmingham, 9ct Gold, 1970, SH Maker's Mark
Condition: Great vintage condition
Full appraisal document provided with each item.
This includes a valuation for insurance purposes, item specifics, date, and origins (where applicable).
Gemstones are tested by an accredited gemmologist (Cert GA, Gemmological Association of Great Britain).
Shipping
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Tracked and insured with signature on delivery
RM Special Delivery (UK domestic)
US Shipments
US Customs charges a 10% "Reciprocal Tariff" on all parcels coming in from the UK.
We will pay this charge on your behalf and you will see it collected as a line item at checkout.
threats of a new 10% Greenland Tariff have been mentioned. We'll see how this plays out and update in due course.
[Last updated: January 2026]
Resizing
Ring sizing is available on most rings
£55 flat fee
Resizing takes 7-14 days
Leave a note at checkout with your desired size
Note: sizing may remove some of the patina (although we take every care to reduce this where possible)
Layaway
25% deposit taken to secure the item. The remaining balance will be settled in 90 days. You can pay installments weekly, monthly, or the full balance at the end - whatever works.
Condition
We offer detailed and accurate condition reports on each listing. These pieces are antique, vintage, or pre-loved and often over 100 years old so they're going to have lived a life. A healthy patina and the odd scuff or scrape is quite normal... it's part of their charm! Everything we present has been checked over by our jeweller and should be good for wear for many years to come (unless otherwise stated) but please remember to treat them with appropriate care and consideration for their age.
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