ASTA 267 - GLITTICA

A ROMAN AGATE INTAGLIO SET IN A GOLD RING. SPHINX WITH CADUCEUS.

1st - 2nd century A.D.

Stone 10x13 mm; int. diam 17 mm; 5,91 gr

With rounded hoop, the shoulders incised with lily flowers and surmounted by an oval box setting set with an agate intaglio; Winged sphinx facing left, the head surmounted by a modius (?) is looking at a caduceus. Groundline. Wear marks.

Provenance: U.K. private collection

A GROUP OF 4 ROMAN GOLD RINGS SET WITH ENGRAVED THREE LAYERED AGATE INTAGLIOS. VARIOUS SUBJECTS.

2nd century A.D.

Min stone 5x7 mm max 7x9 mm; min int. Diam 12 mm max int. Diam 14 mm; Total weight 22,68 gr

With massive rounded hoops expanding onto oval bezels and set with layered agate intaglios: figure to be identified; parrot on a branch; Harpocrates; shrimp. Wear marks.

Provenance: U.K. private collection

A FINE ROMAN CITRINE INTAGLIO. GRIFFIN KILLING A SNAKE.

1st century A.D.

12x15x6 mm

The winged creature faces left, in the act of killing a snake. The scene may also have an allegorical meaning. Extraordinary variety of citrine, convex on both sides, characterized by a very bright light. Small chips. Wear marks. Rare.

Provenance: From a private collection, France, acquired From the Galerie de Serres, Paris in the 1990s-early 2000s

A ROMAN CARNELIAN INTAGLIO. EROS RIDING A SEA-HORSE.

2nd century A.D.

11x15x4,5 mm

The winged figure is riding a sea-horse facing right over the waves of the sea. Wear marks.

Provenance: U.K. private collection

A ROMAN RED JASPER INTAGLIO. PRAWN AND FISH.

1st-2nd century A.D.

8,5x11x3 mm

The shrimp facing left, beneath the fish facing right. Slight wear marks.

Provenance: From a private collection, Nothern Germany acquired before 1981 ; Gorny & Mosch, Auction. 202, 14/12/2011, lot 234. This lot is sold under temporary import status.

A ROMAN BLOODSTONE INTAGLIO. EAGLE WITH MILITARY INSIGNIA, CRESCENT MOON AND STARS.

2nd century A.D.

10x12x2 mm

This allegorical military depiction is composed by an eagle spreading his wings on the center of the scene. On each side, a legion standard. On top, two stars and a crescent moon. Groundline. Fine execution and nice variety of stone. Wear marks.

Provenance: U.K private collection

A LATE ROMAN BURNT AGATE INTAGLIO. EAGLE.

4th century A.D.

7 x 10 x 2 mm

The surface burned to obtain a light contrast color. The bird turns its head to the right. Wear marks.

Provenance: From the collection of an European gentleman, acquired on the art market

A ROMAN CARNELIAN INTAGLIO. PARROT.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

7 x 9 x 2 mm

Parrot facing left with cherries in its beak. Groundline.

Provenance: U.K collection acquired on the art market

A ROMAN BURNT CARNELIAN INTAGLIO. TWO ROASTERS PULLING A CHARIOT DRIVEN BY A CORNUCOPIA.

1st-2nd century A.D.

7x10x2 mm

Interesting scene of two roosters looking at each other pulling a chariot with a cornucopia and a small supporting altar on it. Burnt stone. Small chips and wear marks.

Provenance: From a private collection, France, acquired from Rupert Wace in the early 2000s

A ROMAN CARNELIAN INTAGLIO. TWO ROOSTERS WITH AN INSCRIPTION.

1st-2nd century A.D.

10x13x2,5 mm

On the left, the winning rooster holds a branch in its beak; on the right side, the defeated one is in a submissive pose. Groundline. In the field, inscription "ZPIN". Wear marks.

Provenance: U.K. private collection

A ROMAN CARNELIAN INTAGLIO. EROS LEADING A GROUP OF FOUR ROOSTERS.

2nd century A.D.

10x14,5x4 mm

Eros is leading a group of four roosters to the left. There was probably a small cart, worn out by the wear of the stone. Interesting depiction. Wear marks.

Provenance: Formerly in the D.C. collection, London ; acquired by a private collector from the above in the early 2000s.

A ROMAN AMETHYST INTAGLIO. ROOSTER WITH AN EAR OF CORN.

2nd century A.D.

9 x 11 x 5 mm

Rooster facing left with an ear of corn. Groundline. Wear marks.

Provenance: U.K collection acquired on the art market

A ROMAN BERYL INTAGLIO. DOLPHIN.

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

12 x 15 x 4,5 mm

The sea creature swims to the left. Use of globular elements. Fine execution and extraordinary variety of bright light bluish beryl, that goes beautifully with the subject, which seems to be swimming in sea water. Truncated cone profile of the gem. Wear marks.

Provenance: U.K. private collection acquired in the british art market.

A RARE ROMAN CHALCEDONY INTAGLIO. WILD BOAR WOUNDED BY A PORCUPINE.

1st century A.D.

8 x 10 x 3 mm

The subject is uncertain. However, analyzing the representation, it looks like an animal wounded by a porcupine. The quadruped looks like a young wild boar, facing to the left, with the typical elongated snout, short tail, thick and adherent hair, legs with small hooves and a visible penis. The animal seems to be pierced by many quills, which are not arrows. Given the direction of these quills, their quantity and type in relation to the animal depicted, they must belong to and come from a different beast, as a porcupine. The subject is engraved with great realism and great technical skill due to the very small measurements of the convex stone. Wear marks. Very rare.

Provenance: From the collection of an European gentleman, acquired on the art market

A ROMAN GLASS INTAGLIO SET IN A GILDED PAPER FRAME. LION.

1st - 2nd century A.D.

12x19x5 mm

The mighty animal is advancing to the left. The tail is elegantly braided to the right hind leg. Groundline. The large specimen is mounted in a golden paper frame typical of the Grand Tour as a collector's frame. Good condition with wear marks.

Provenance: From the collection Henry Wallis (1830 - 1916), the Pre-Raphaelite painter, scholar and collector of antiquities ; From a private collection, France, acquired in the 1990s-early 2000s

AN EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN GLASS INTAGLIO. EROS PULLING A DROMADERY.

2nd century A.D.

13x16x3 mm

The putto is pulling with a rope the dromadery toward left. Groundline. Wear marks.

British Museum online database: inv. 1923,0401.850.

Provenance: U.K. private collection

A ROMAN CARNELIAN INTAGLIO. EMBLEMA.

2nd century A.D.

9x12x4 mm

With a palm branch in a laurel wreath. Allegory of the military and Olympic triumphs.

Provenance: U.K. private collection

A ROMAN CARNELIAN INTAGLIO. KANTHAROS WITH EAR OF CORNS.

2nd century A.D.

5x9,5x3 mm

In the center, the vase between two ear of corns. Groundline. Wear marks.

Provenance: U.K. private collection

A ROMAN CARNELIAN INTAGLIO. MODIUS WITH A SCALE.

1st century A.D.

10 x 12 x 2 mm

Modius with a poppy flower with two ear of corns and a scale. Groundline. Wear marks.

Provenance: U.K collection acquired on the art market

A RARE ROMAN EMERALD INTAGLIO. MODIUS EMBLEMA.

Early 1st century AD.

8 x 10 x 3 mm

Modius containing caduceus and two poppy flowers, with scales above. Below, the inscription AVG. The allegorical emblem, clearly from the Augustan context, is engraved on a beautiful, slightly squared green light emerald. Wear marks. Rare.

Provenance: U.K private collection from the british art market.

A ROMAN GOLD RING SET WITH A RED JASPER INTAGLIO. A SMALL TABLE WITH VESSELS (TRAPEZA).

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

Stone 5x8 mm; int. Size 16x18 mm; 5,33 gr

With rounded hoop, flatten within and expanding upward onto an oval bezel set with a jasper intaglio; table with three trapezophoroi seeing front. Groundline. Wear marks.

Provenance: U.K. private collection

A ROMAN GOLD RING SET WITH AN AGATE INTAGLIO. BUNCH OF GRAPE IN A LAUREL WREATH.

3rd century A.D.

Stone 9x12 mm; int. Size 14x16,5 mm; 7,50 gr

Kindred type. Hoop round without and angular within, broadening upwards; the shoulders project strongly. The bezel consists of a three-layered agate intaglio , in form of a truncated cone, in plain oval setting soldered to a flat plate cut between the ends of the hoop; bunch of grape in a laurel wreath. Allegory of Victory and wealth. Wear marks.

Provenance: U.K. private collection

A ROMAN SARDONYX CAMEO. LYRE.

1st - 2nd century A.D.

14 x 16 x 5 mm.

A lyre, ribboned, a tortoise-shell sound box. Perhaps commissioned by a poet. Three layered agate-sardonyx. Beautiful execution for the size. Wear marks. Rare.

D. Scarisbrick, C. Wagner. J. Boardman, The Beverly Collection og gems at Alnwick Castle, p. 96 n. 87 and 88; Cfr. Cameo from the Farnese coll., Napoli, Museo Archeologico inv. 25922.

Provenance: From the collection of an European gentleman, acquired on the art market

A ROMAN RED JASPER MAGICAL INTAGLIO. ALLEGORICAL SCENE.

2nd century A.D.

18 x 19 x 4,5 mm.

In the center a vase with the claws and legs of a crab, above two dolphins converge towards the vase; a shell between the two marine animals. On the sides, two palm fronds; below, a crescent moon. Very interesting fantastic subject, composed as an emblema, which can be compared to the gryllos category in some aspects. Certainly a good auspicious scene. Wear marks and small chips to the edge. Small natural lack of the stone behind.

Provenance: U.K. private collection acquired in the british art market.