This page is dedicated to such stories, starting with the ones I can partly recall but open to all with a similar experience. What I propose to do is post what I can remember of each story with a logical heading in the hope it will strike a chord in someone's memory and that then someone will send me the title or author or enough information to find the original.
Readers can send contributions so that they too have a chance of recovering lost stories.
Good Luck to us all in our quest. Naturally enough, the scientist works for a museum just loaded with statues of Greek gods, animals and such. Also naturally enough, once he discovers the powers of the ring he starts turning selected statues to living flesh. Unfortunately, he finds some quirky personalities coming to life and this causes complications. Statues are brought to life, people are turned to statues, it gets real complicated.