Auction 86 - Glyptics and Ancient Jewelry

A roman nicolo intaglio. Funerary winged genius.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

8 x 10 x 3 mm

The character, identifiable with Pothos, is standing with crossed legs facing left. He holds a scepter in the right hand and a cup in the left one. Attractive color of the stone.


Parallels: Erika Zwierlein-Diehl, Die Gemmen und Kameen des Dreikonigenschreines, p. 309 n. 206 (for the same subject on the same stone).

European private collection.

A roman nicolo intaglio. Asclepius.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

10,5 x 14 x 3 mm

The divinity is standing, seen from the front but with the head turned to the right. The figure holds the scepter with the snake entertwined; gem related to the protection of good health and the power of medicine.



U.K private collection

A roman agate intaglio. Zeus Sarapis, Isis and Harpokrates.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

15 x 17 x 5 mm

The three characters are standing turned on the right side. The goddess Isis holds a sistrum in her left hand and a jug in her right, Harpokrates holds a horn of abundance in his right; Sarapis holds a scepter in his right. Isis wears plants on her head, and Sarapis the modius. Interesting iconography in reference of the egyptian osiriac triad. Stone is broken on the lower part. Nice color of the stone. Slight wear marks and little traces of burns.

Parallels : A cast of the Cornell Gem Impressions Collection, Cornell University, 01.1.0101

U.K private collection

A roman nicolo intaglio. Zeus with the eagle.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

10 x 12 x 3 mm

The deity is seated on a throne. With his right hand he holds the scepter, with his left he holds a patera. At his feet, the eagle. Groundline. Votive gem dedicated to the cult of Zeus, supreme ruler of Olympus. Interesting octagonal shape of the bezel. Wear marks.



U.K. private collection

A large roman carnelian intaglio. Mythological scene.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

21,5 x 27 x 3 mm

On the left side, the standing figure of Hermes is holding the caduceus and facing Zeus seated on his throne. The young god is offering a purse of money to the supreme god ( at his feet an eagle).Groundline. Probably from an eastern workshop. Small chips on the edge. Very large size. Beautiful deep red and orange color.



Monte-Carlo private collection, Mr. P.L, 1982

A fine roman red jasper intaglio. Hercules with the apples of Hesperides.

1st - 2nd century A.D.

10 x 13 x 3 mm

The hero, facing right, is holding the club with the left hand, three apples of the Hesperides and the lion skin with the right one. Groundline. The scene refers to the famous twelve labors of Hercules. In this case, the heroic figure is standing, with the body finely sculpted in its anatomical details, seen from the front but with the head turned in profile to the right, in a glorious pose showing the fruit of the eleventh labor. Subject that symbolizes strength, courage, astuteness and virtue. Attractive color of the stone. Rare. Slight wear marks. Large chipping on the edge below.



U.K., private collection 80's, London.

A fine roman nicolo intaglio. Standing Mars.

2nd century A.D.

11 x 14 x 3 mm

The divinity is standing, with the helmeted head turned to the right. He wears the cloack and the armor; he holds the spear with his left hand and the shield with his right. At his feet, a small cylindrical altar. On the left side, the inscription THIO.
Votive gem consecrated to the military supremacy and to the victory in war.
Intaglio executed with technical skill and with great attention to the rendering of anatomical details. Wear marks.



U.K private collection

A large roman nicolo intaglio. Venus victrix.

2nd century A.D.

12,5 x 16 x 3 mm

The goddess, facing left, is partially draped and leaning on a column. She holds the helmet in the left hand and the spear in the right one. Slight wear marks.



U.K private collection

A fine roman red jasper intaglio. Votive scene.

1st - 2nd century A.D.

11 x 14 x 3 mm

The scene of sacrifice is composed in the center by a winged erote who rests his right knee on the ground, in a votive attitude, in the act of offering a small boar as a sacrificial victim. On the sides, two winged armed geniuses, facing the center of the scene. A figure wears the cloak armor and holds a spear and a sword, which he brings closer to the animal; the other figure, in a tunic and cloak, holds one spear but with the tip pointing downwards and still wields a sword. Groundline. Below, the letter F. Interesting allegorical representation. Attractive color of the stone. Slight wear marks. Rare.



U.K., private collection 70's, London.

A roman bloodstone intaglio. Eros hunter.

1st - 2nd century A.D.

9 x 12 x 3 mm

The winged child is depicted in the act of hitting a goat with a weapon, holding it by a paw. At his feet, the body of a dying prey. In the background, a tree. On the back of the bezel: the initial letter of the owner's name (in the style of the seals), presumably engraved during the 18th century. Unusual piece. Attractive vivid color of the stone. Light chipping on the edge. Wear marks.



U.K private collection

A roman burnt silver impression from an intaglio. Venus victrix with eros.

1st - 2nd century A.D.

9 x 11 x 2 mm

The divinity is facing right, offering the helmet to Eros with her right hand; with her left she holds a spear. The partially draped figure leans on a column. Below, a shield and winged eros holding a sword. Scene referring to the eternal victory of love and to its great power on the human beings. Interesting specimen. Chipping on th edge.



U.K private collection

A roman carnelian intaglio. Eros and Anteros.

1st century A.D.

10 x 12 x 3 mm

The two winged creatures, intent in the struggle, are naked and are both characterized by thick hair. An erote attacks from behind his opponent, blocking his hands on his back and making him his prisoner. Anteros, taken prisoner, appears defeated and with his head tilted forward. Below, a bow and a quiver, the reason for the dispute: the arms of Love. Groundline. Delicious scene composed with grace and irony. Interesting stylistic rendering. Wear marks.

Parallels: U. Pannuti, p. 26 n. 36

U.K private collection

A roman carnelian intaglio. Eros on a lion.

2nd century A.D.

11 x 13 x 2 mm

The winged erote is seating on the back of a rampant lion. Depiction referred to the power love and to the strenght. Groudline. Slight wear marks. Attractive color of the stone.



U.K private collection

A roman republican garnet intaglio. Eros with a bow.

1st century B.C.

7 x 11 x 4 mm

The graceful winged figure is in the act of making a bow, his invincible weapon of love. Use of globular elements. Attractive color of the stone. Slight wear marks.



U.K. private collection, London. Property of a East London gentleman.

A roman republican agate intaglio. Eros with panoplia.

1st century B.C.

12 x 15 x 4 mm

The winged erote is depicted in the act of wearing a military sandal, next to the weapons of Mars: helmet, shield and spear. Letters around the winged figure. The carving, made on a beautiful variety of brown-colored zoned agate with honey tones, is broken into fragments and recomposed. Allegory of the Love preparing himself to the battle. Wear marks.



U.K private collection

A roman agate intaglio. Two armed pygmies near herm.

1st century A.D.

10 x 14 x 4,5 mm

A pygmy armed with a spear and a shield advances to the left, towards a seated companion, armed only with a shield, near a herm. Ground line. The two little characters seem to dialog. Scene probably inspired by a Nilotic iconography (mosaic).



U.K private collection

A roman banded agate intaglio. Warrior.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

11 x 16 x 3 mm

The standing figure is turned with the body to the right side, facing left withe the head in profile. The warrior is holding a sword with the left hand, a scabbard, a spear and a drapery with the right. Groundline. Attractive color of the stone. Slight wear marks.



U.K private collection

A roman nicolo agate intaglio. Warrior.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

12 x 17 x 4 mm

The figure facing left is wearing a cloak, holding the spear with his right hand, the helmet with his left. Groundline. Nice size and tone of the stone.



U.K private collection

A fine roman red jasper with green, yellow and transparent inclusions. A running figure with a galopping horse.

1st century B.C.

14 x 17 x 3,5 mm

The running male figure is naked and holds a spear with a small cloth in his right hand, the horse with his left (even though the bridle has not been shown). Next to him is a galloping horse with raised front legs. The scene, very interesting, is identifiable by a glass impression from a lost intaglio, that represents the same scene: a rider who gets on the horse while running with the help of the pole ("Un soldato solito di salire a cavallo coll'ajuto dell'Asta"). Extraordinary variety of the stone. Large size. Rare subject.

See parallels: L.P.B. Stefanelli, La collezione Paoletti, vol. 1, p. 154 n. 528.

U.K private collection

A roman agate intaglio. Apollo with a snake.

2nd century A.D.

10 x 14 x 3 mm

The god is standing, facing left, slightly bent forward. With his right hand he holds the bow, while with his left he holds an arrow (the quiver on his shoulders). At his feet, a snake. Small groundline. Slight wear marks.



U.K private collection

A roman green chalcedony intaglio. Biga.

2nd century A.D.

5 x 7 x 1,5 mm

The racing chariot is pulled by two horses moving left. The charioteer shakes the whip with her right hand. Interesting specimen of small dimensions but rich in details. Slight wear marks. Groundline. Attractive vivid green color of the stone with chromium inclusions.



U.K private collection

A roman carnelian intaglio. Bucolic scene.

2nd century A.D.

14 x 10 x 2 mm

An old shepherd watches over two grazing cows advancing to the left. In the background, a plant. Light chipping on the edge. Bucolic scene. Slight wear marks.



U.K private collection

A roman agate intaglio. Bucolic scene.

2nd century A.D.

10 x 12 x 2,5 mm

A shepherd, covered with a fur coat, is looking at his goat while she is climbing toward a little tree, eating a leaf. Groundline. Slight wear marks.



U.K private collection

A roman carnelian. Shepherd with a goat.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

12 x 15 x 3 mm

The character, facing left, wears a cloak and leans on a stick. At his feet, a goat. Bucolic scene. Ground line. Attractive color of the stone.



U.K. private collection