Bertolami Fine Art - Riversdell Close 27, KT16 9JW Chertsey
Auction 86 - Glyptics and Ancient Jewelry sessione unica
Wednesday 9 December 2020 hours 14:00 (UTC +01:00)
A roman sapphire intaglio. Bust of male ruler.
A roman sapphire intaglio. Bust of male ruler.
End of 1st century B.C.
6 x 8 x 3 mm
The portrait is facing right. The nose and part of the mouth are missing due to the breaking of the stone. However, the physiognomic features are well evident, such as the protruding cheekbone and the spherical chin, the folds on the cheek, the marked orbital arch, the musculature of the neck and above all the typical hair with overlapping strands with a characteristic raised tuft of hair on the front. These anatomical details, referable to the late republican iconography, make it probable that this effigy is identified with Pompey the Great, or a similar and coeval private portrait. The stone was later shaped on the back with facets, probably in the Renaissance period. However, the front side has retained its ancient wear marks. Rare.
Parallels : M. L. vollenweider, Die Portratgemmen der romischen Republik, 1972, pl. 71-75.
U.K private collection