Auction 86 - Glyptics and Ancient Jewelry

A large roman blue and white glass cameo. Bacchus and Ariadne


2nd-3rd century A.D.

34 x 42 x 6,5 mm

On the dark blue background, the two figures are standing, engraved on the white layer. They are looking at each other, a little column between them. Ariadne is holding a stick with her left hand, her right arm hidden beside the bust of Bacchus.Her right leg bent is in relief, meanwhile the rendering of the left one well held is more flat, creating a sense of volume. The wine god, is holding a rhyton in his right hand, meanwhile his left hand rests on the column. Legs crossed, with the left on top, also in relief. Very fine condition. Rare.



U.K. private collection, London.

A roman agate cameo. Satyr and mask.

1st - 3rd century A.D.

20 x 25 x 7 mm


The bucolic scene is well composed and is skillfully carved in high relief on an agate characterized by delicate nuances. On the right side, a satyr sitting on the ground with his back resting on the rocks, in the act of playing the syrinx; in front of him, on the left side, a theatrical mask placed on a rock. The satyr's right thigh (in the background) is chipped. The scene seems inspired by a marble relief. Traces of iron patina. The representation is part of the repertoire of bucolic scenes with references to theater and the musical arts, without excluding allegorical allusions. Rare type.



U.K. private collection, London.

A roman chalcedony intaglio set in an ancient gold ring. Erotic scene.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

intaglio : 13 x 17 mm
ring : 21 x 20 mm
13,38 g

Erotic scene, the woman is lying on the bed, her neck resting on a large pillow, meanwhile the man is entering, standing and turned toward her. Groundline. This depiction is referred to the “spintria”, these roman tesserae with various erotic compositions.
Attractive color of the stone. Set on a massive hoop, rounded without, flatten within and broadening upwards. The bezel composed of two bands of gold rising one above the other.



U.K private collection, London.

A roman carnelian intaglio set ina modern gold ring. Homoerotic "paiderastia" scene.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

intaglio : 9 x 17 mm
ring : 18 x 16 mm
7,86 g

A young boy is depicted in an intimate moment of initiation into the greek paiderastia. The young figure wears a collar and a thin robe that glimpses his shapely naked body (veil) and is faced with an adult male figure, with a diademate head and a naked body. The man brings his hands to the boy's head, who puts his hand up to touch his attributes while keeping his left leg raised above a small altar. Groundline. Probable scene of initiation to homoerotic paideia; the scene seems inspired by the repertoire of Greek black-figured vascular painting. Very rare subject on gems. The ring seems to have a repair in the attack between the rod and the bezel. Wear marks.



U.K private collection 90's

A roman carnelian intaglio mounted in a modern gold ring. Erotic scene.

2nd century A.D.

stone: 1,4 x 1,8 mm ring diam: 20 mm 12,76 gr.

With a wide hoop rounded without and flatten within surmonted by a large rounded bezel set with a large carnelian intaglio. The scene depicts a man and a woman seated on a bed in front of each other in an act of masturbation. Groundline. The scene is strongly inspired by the depictions of sexual acts coined on the spintriae: the characteristic posture, the style of the figures and of the bed, the composition and the attitudes of the characters. Spintria (plural, spintriae), or more correctly erotic tessera, was the name of a particular category of Roman token, generally used for payments within a brothel. On it, usually, heterosexual erotic scenes are depicted. However, this intaglio is not a copy of spintria as mastrurbation scenes of this type do not seem to recur in the usual repertoire. Another source of inspiration are the frescoes of Pompeii and the terracotta oil lamps.The deep red color of the stone well emphasizes the strong erotic charge of the representation, and presents a small natural inclusion in a nodule exactly on the breast of the female figure, perhaps referable to an intimate auspicious and apotropaic meaning on the health of the owner of the gem. Mirror polishing inside the figures. Wear marks and a minor crack on the edge. Rare.

Parallels: C. Johns, Sex or Symbol. Erotic images of Greece and Rome; T. V. (1973) 'The Spintriae as a Historical Source', The Numismatic Chronicle 13, pp. 52 – 63; A. Campana, A. (2009) 'Le spintriae: tessere Romane con raffigurazione erotiche', La Donna Romana: Immagini E Vita Quotidiana Atti de Convegno. Astina, 7 Marzo 2009. pp. 43 – 96; Jacobelli, L. (2000) Spintriae e ritratti Giulio-Claudii. Bd. 1. Spintriae e scene diverse. L'impianto iconografico. Centro Culturale Numismatico Milanese, Milano; Simonetta, B & Riva R. (1981) Le tessere erotiche romane (spintriae). Quando ed a che scopo sono state coniate. Chiesa, Lugano; Duggan, E. (2016) "Stranger Games: The Life and Times of the spintriae". For a roman cameo with an erotic scene (couple on a bed intituled"spintria"), see U: Pannuti, La Collezione di Glittica, Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, p. 224 n. 189

U.K., private collection 80's.

An roman agate cameo mounted on a modern gold ring. A youth on a seagoat.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

Cameo : 12 x 18 mm
Ring : 23 x 19 mm
5,60 g

A naked youth riding a capricorn (goat-fish). He claps one of the creature's horns and is fishing with a rod, which curves as it catches a small fish. He is sitting on a hide with a serrated edge. An interesting parallel, very similar, is a refined sardonyx cameo from the Beverly collection (Alnick castle), dated 30 BC and identified as the young Octavian Augustus (whose zodiac sign was Capricorn) in the allegory of the victory of the naval battle of Actium (31 BC). The victory was in fact celebrated on the cameos. However, the figure also seems close to the models of the satyr-pan, as in this case, whose marked features of the face and youthful musculature seem to express. The cameo, mounted in a swivel gold ring, has damaged edges and the figure is missing a foot. The piece clearly shows signs of ancient wear and an ancient execution with marked and spontaneous engraver lines, certainly inspired by a precise model as for the Beverly cameo. Well composed scene. Interesting iconography. Rare.

Parallels: D. Scasbrick, C. Wagner, J. Boardman, The Beverly Collection of gems at Alnick Castle, p. 11 n. 6.

U.K private collection, London

A roman banded agate intaglio set in a gold ring. Ajax with Cassandra.

2nd-3rd century A.D.

Intaglio : 11 x 16 mm
Ring : 16 x 13 mm
3,56 g

She has fled to the altar and is near to embracing the palladion. Ajax stands beside her in the act of take Kassandra by the hair and holding his shield in the left arm (the sword stuck in his side?). Kassandra is shown in back view, with head and limbs turned in profile; a himation covers the lower part of her body. Ajax, shown in front view, is nude and wears an helmet. The statue of Athena has a girded peplos, with aegis, a helmet and shield, and brandishes her spear. Groundline. Slight wear marks. The stone is set in an ancient gold ring. Very fine condition. Rare.

Parallels: G.M.A. Richter, The engraved gems of the greeks, etruscans and romans, part II, p. 65 n. 300 (British Museum, sard intaglio, from the Blacas collection 445, Walters Cat. No. 1942).

U.K. private collection, London. Ex Schweizer Privatsammlung seit ca. 1930

An early Victorian gold ring, set with a roman intaglio in chromian chalcedony. Bonus Eventus.

intaglio: 1st century A.D. Mounting: 19th century

intaglio : 8 x 12 mm
Diam (ring) : 18 x 19 mm
5, 68 g


The standing and nude figure is holding ears of corn with the right hand and a phiale with the left. Allegorical and votive depiction referred to the abundance and good luck. Slight wear marks. This fine roman green chromium chalcedony is set in an early victorian gold ring, finely chiseled, with a bezel later inscibed: "In memory of William Manson - Ob 19 June ae 1852". Manson was an auctioneer, who joined the firm Christie's in 1831 as partner (at the death of James Christie Jr.) and was replaced by his brother Edward after is death. Very fine condition.



European private collection.

A very fine roman chacedony intaglio. Zeus enthroned with the eagle.

1st century B.C. - 1st century A.D.

11 x 13 x 5 mm

Zeus is seated on his throne, holding the scepter on his right hand and lightning with the left. The god is characterized by voluminous hair and beard, a muscular body, with the naked torso, and wearing a drapery marked by pleats in relief revealing the framework of his knees and feet. On the left, at his feet, the eagle looking toward him. Groundline. The subject is probably inspired by a sculpture. Very fine execution of the muscular rendering, with an impressive high relief effect, almost three-dimensional. Beautiful work engraved on a fine chalcedony double convex stone with honey tone. Slight wear marks.

Parallels :
Thorvaldsens museum, Copenhague, inv. 189. Cabinet des Médailles, Paris, inv.58.1420.G.M.A. Richter, Catalogue of engraved gem. Greek, etruscan and roman. The Metropolitan Museum of New York, n. 256. Antiken Gemmen in Deutschen Sammlungen, Band I, Staatliche Munzsammlung Munchen, n. 2448.

U.K private collection

A roman green jasper astrological intaglio. Helios with solar quadriga.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

13 x 16 x 3 mm

In the middle of the scene, the standing god is over the chariot, wearing the radiated crown and holding the solar whip/ the bridles with the left hand, rising the right. On his left and right side, the horses. Four stars. Groundline. Fine astrological depiction, well composed. Slight wear marks.



U.K., private collection 70's, in the same family since then.

A roman carnelian intaglio. Mercury on the ram with a scorpion.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

12 x 15 x 3 mm

The magical and astrological depiction is formed by: on top, Mercury riding a ram and holding a caduceus with the left hand, the purse witht the right; on the lower part, a scorpion. Attractive color of the stone. Wear marks. Rare.



U.K. private collection

A large roman magical red jasper intaglio. Allegorical scene referring to the Danubian mystery cults.

2nd-3rd century A.D.

23 x 27 x 3 mm

In some gems and lead plates we find the representation of a goddess standing between the two Dioscuri on horseback. Evenly identifying this character is not simple or certain. According to Chapouthier's interpretation it can be assimilated with the goddess Hekate-Elena; according to Delatte and Derchain it is Nemesis-Hekate; according to Barb, a representation of the mystery cult of Balkan origin. These lead plates derive mainly from the Danubian area. In this jasper intaglio, it is not entirely clear the identification of the central character with tunic and cloak, in the act of spreading his arms; certainly next to it there are two riders with a radiated crown (dioscuri). Above, two stars and above an eagle holding a laurel branch and two snakes in its beak. Below, in the center, a container (crater) and on the sides of the characters armed with spears. In the reverse side of the gem, a crater surmounted by a star, above a vessel and another star; on both sides, two large snakes twisted with two sticks and two arches. Above, crescent moon. Slight wear marks. Very rare.

Parallels: Chapouthier 1935, n. 69, p. 77; fig. 56, p. 287 ss. DELATTE, DERCHAIN, Les Intailles magiques, p. 193 ss, n. 259-260; D. Tudor, Corpus monumentorum religionis Equitum Danuvinorum, II, 1967, n. 228. A. Mastrocinque, Sylloge gemmarum gnosticarum, pp. 354-355.

European private collection.

A fine roman green and red jasper magical intaglio. Anguipes with inscriptions.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

15 x 19 x 2 mm

Frontal view of a cock-headed Anguipes in armour with snakes legs, head to right. Right hand raised high, bent in elbow and holding the solar whip meanwhile the left is holding a round shield. Inside the shield, 3 inscribed lined :
IAW
IEHI
OYω
We distinguish the name of the Jewish god : Ἰάω (Iaô)
Around the shield, two circular inscribed lines.
On the left, IAWCABAω -> Iaô Sabaoth (Lord of Armies).
Under the legs, ADωNAI -> Adonaî.
On top, on the right of the cock head, a palindrome ΑΒΛΑΝΑΘΑΝΑΛΒΑ̣ -> Ablanathanalba.
On the reverse, 3 inscribed lines :
OYXCΠΓA
CPAHΛIAHΛ --> we can reed Prasraêl or Prosoraiêl
MEIXAHΛ --> Michaêl
On the edge, two inscribed lines on each part.

Chips and little missings on the edge. Very fine detailed execution. Rare. Attractive vivid color of the stone.

See parallels :
A. Mastrocinque, Les intailles magiques du département des Monnaies, Médailles et Antiques, n° 292

Michel, 2001, pl.26, n°181

Henig, Martin, 1975, BAR Supp., pl.15, n°251

A. Mastrocinque, Sylloge Gemarum Gnosticarum, P.I pp.269-297

U.K., private collection 70's, in the same family since then.

A roman hematite magical intaglio. The Three Graces-Hecate.

2nd - 3rd century A.D..

11,5 x 15 x 2 mm

The Three Moirai (Graces) standing in a group, the arms in movement. Groundline. Inscription around the edge (partially erased), (...)OBΛ TPIAOPEOBAPBAPCAI (...).
Following Plato's cosmogony, the Goddess Ananke and the Three Fates were spinning the central spindle of the cosmos (Mastrocinque 2002a, p.174-187).
Traces of iron and slight wear of marks. Rare.

Parallels :
Metropolitan Museum of Art. 1894. Handbook No. 9: Collections of Engraved Gems. no. 56, p. 40, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Bonner, Campbell. 1950. Studies in Magical Amulets, Chiefly Graeco-Egyptian, University of Michigan Studies, Humanistic Series, Vol. 49. no. 61, p. 263, pl. 3, Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.

U.K., private collection 70's, in the same family since then.

A roman red jasper with dark green inclusions magical intaglio. Anguipes cock.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

13,5 x 18 x 3 mm

The hybrid figure is turned on the right. The right hand raised high and holding the solar whip, left hand holding the round shield which is inscribed Ἰάω. On the reverse, two inscribed lines ABPACAZ - CABAωθ (Abraxas, Sabaoth).
Chip on the left edge and wear marks on both sides. Very nice color of the stone.


Parallels : Mastrocinque, Attilio. Les intailles magiques du département des Monnaies, médailles et antiques.Paris : Bibliothèque nationale de France, 2014, p.116, n°303.

U.K., private collection 70's, in the same family since then.

A roman chalcedony magical intaglio. Chnoubis.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

11 x 14,5 x 5 mm

Chnoubis with lion radiated head turned on the left is opening his mouth. On the reverse, 4 lines inscribed and charakteres. Rare.

Parallels: Mastrocinque, Attilio. SGG.I, pp.248-260

U.K., private collection 70's, in the same family since then.

A large roman astrological chalcedony intaglio. The Gemini decan, Pephisothet.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

17 x 20 x 12 mm

The male figure is standing on a lotus flower, naked, in a contrapposto posture, the head turned on the right. On his left hand he holds thunderbolts, meanwhile upraising his right arm (partially missing) over his head . At his feet, on each side, lion and sheep with inscriptions over their head. Under the lotus flower, inscriptions. On the reverse, 5 inscribed lines. The lotus, the lion and the ram (here the sheep) composed the egyptian triad “serpouth moui sro” representing the three forms of the Sun during the day. A similar gem conserved at the J. Paul Getty Museum was interpreted as the Gemini decan (cf. Mastrocinque, n°469).The category of gems representing the decans has been underestimated. The decans are the thirty-six deities who presided over the thirty-six sectors of the zodiac (each sector governing ten degrees), at the rate of three decans for each of the twelve zodiac signs. They have been known in Mesopotamia and Egypt since the most ancient times. They were said to provide specific diseases and govern particular organs of the human body. That’s why we used some of them for health protection. Some lacks and chips on the edge. Nice dimensions of the stone.

Mastrocinque, Attilio. Les intailles magiques du département des Monnaies, médailles et antiques. Paris : Bibliothèque nationale de France, 2014, p.172, n°469. Delatte, Armand, Derchain, Philippe. Les intailles magiques gréco-égyptiennes, Bibliothèque nationale, Cabinet des Médailles et Antiques. Paris : 1964, n°45.
Delaporte, Louis. Cachets orientaux de la collection de Luynes. Paris : 1928, p.64.



U.K., private collection 70's, in the same family since then.

A large roman magical agate intaglio. Isiac divinity and inscriptions.

1st - 3rd century A.D.

24 x 27 x 4 mm

The isiac divinity is faced to the left, wearing a long dress, holding in her right hand a short curved knife, and in her left an instrument. She wears the atef crown with horns, feathers and disc. Around, inscriptions from right to left :
APAPPABA
θPAXθ
On the reverse, inscriptions in" triangle shape":
AAAAAAA
EEEEEE
HHHHH
IIII
OOO
VV
W



U.K., private collection 70's, in the same family since then.

A large roman magical lapis lazuli intaglio. Anubis.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

26 x 34 x 4 mm

The god is standing on a crocodile, turned to the left and wearing a short dress.
Above the winged solar disk. On either side of the god, birds and snakes. He holds a scorpion in each of his hands.
On the reverse, inscription:
NθM
ONOC
KONY
This type of magical gem was used to protect against disease. Wear marks. Rare.




U.K., private collection 70's, in the same family since then.

An unusual roman magical agate intaglio with red and green inclusions. Zodiacal representation of Gemini.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

15 x 19 x 2 mm

The scene depicts a naked male figure, with two heads, and a snake wrapped around his body, whose double head covering the polymorphic figure. Each of the heads looks in a opposite direction, one on the left, the other on the right. Groundline.
This representation reminds the egyptian zodiac for Gemini sign, which has for animal the snake (Mastrocinque, 2014) and describes by Teucros the Babylonian.
In the PGM III. 275-81, the Moon on Gemini is the time says for bounding spells (which can be symbolized by the snake wrapped around the two faces body).
Traces on the iron mounting on the backside.
Rare representation. Very nice variety of stone for this large and unusual amulet.

Bibliography :
Betz, The Greek magical papyri in translation, 1992, p.26
Mastrocinque, Les intailles magiques du départements des Monnaies, Médailles et Antiques, 2014

U.K. private collection

A roman hematite magical fusiform amulet. Feminine figure with inscriptions.


2nd - 3rd century A.D.

H : 24 mm

The cylindrical shaped amulet is engraved with a principal feminine figure, dressed with a long dress and hat, turned on the left, her right arm bent and right index to her mouth, meanwhile, she holds her tight with the left arm. Groundline.
Around, seven lines of greek inscriptions.

Parallels : A. Mastrocinque, SGG I, p.399, tav. 21

U.K private collection, London.

A roman chalcedony magical intaglio. Inscriptions.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

8 x 11 x 2 mm

Oval-shaped stone. Inside a circle, 3 lines inscribed :
ANAZAPB
OYEDOΞOY
MHTPOΠ
Slight wear marks. Rare.

Parallels: Mastrocinque, Attilio. Sylloge Gemmarum gnosticarum, p.I, pp.421-448


U.K., private collection 70's, in the same family since then.

A graeco-roman agate engraved seal. Ear of corn and inscriptions.

1st century B.C. - 1st century A.D.

11 x 14 x 7 mm

The scaraboid shaped seal is engraved on both side. On the convex side, an ear of corn turned on the left between two greek inscriptions :
ΑΤΔΠΧΙ
ΝΚΗΕΥ
On the reverse, a greek inscriptions :
ΦΚΥΕ
Attractive colors of the stone. Rare.





U.K., private collection 70's, in the same family since then.

A roman magical green and red jasper intaglio set in an ancient electrum ring. Serapis and Helios with magical inscriptions.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

Intaglio : 14 x 20 mm
Ring : 19 x 15 mm
9,15 g

The solar god is standing, naked, holding the solar wip and the radiated crown, turned on the left torward the Serapis. The seated god is facing Helios, and wearing with crown with the modius. He holds the scepter with his bended right arm. Groundline.
Clockwise, on the edge, greek inscriptions engraved : CΕΓΑΠΙC -> Serapis
Under the groundline, greek inscriptions.
The mounting is an electrum ring, with a rounded hoop without, flatten within and a large oval bezel.



U.K private collection, London.