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 fine roman amethyst intaglio. Portrait of the Emperor Balbinus.
A fine roman amethyst intaglio. Portrait of the Emperor Balbinus.
3rd century A.D.
11 x 13 x 5 mm
This peculiar effigy can be identified with the portrait of the emperor Decimo Celio Calvino Balbino (178-238), in charge from February to May 238 A.D. In this rare and unpublished effigy of the emperor, he is facing right, with the draped bust and the radiate crown on the head. Two round fibulae are visible on the shoulders. The head is characterized by physiognomic features that well show his peculiar aspect in a naturalistic and expressive sense. The face is characterized by a small expressive eye, a slightly wrinkled forehead, a broad and generous beardless cheek. The lips are small, the globular chin engraved as small sphere that is grafted onto the large double chin; the neck is massive. The hair is short and tight, finely dotted according to the typical late style also present on the official coinage
portraits. The style of the bandages hanging on the nape is the same as that present on the coins; it can be assumed that the engraver of this portrait was probably an engraver of cones. The highly realistic traits of the character are expressed according to the “late style” rendering that fits well with the artistic taste of the time. This rare portrait is engraved on a beautiful mirror polished amethyst (slightly convex on the front side, more convex on the backside) characterized by a purple vivid color with a fine transparency on the bust. Small crack in the stone. Wear marks.
U.K., private collection 80's.