Auction 85 - Antiquities

GREEK HELLENISTIC MARBLE PORTRAIT OF A GODDESS
2nd - 1st century BC

height cm 10 (cm 19 with Iron support)

Even if it is preserved only a portion, as a mask, this head preserves its beauty and it's possible appreciate its high artistic quality. This small head has a naturalistic visage, with rounded forehead, large lidded almond-shaped eyes and fine brow-line that arches gracefully and merges with the bridge of her nose. Provided with an iron museal stand. Provenance: From the collection of Mr. U.C., started during 1950s in Brussels; then, collection supplemented by Diplomatic sons until the late 1990s.

ROMAN MARBLE PORTRAIT OF A WOMAN
Julio-Claudian Period, 1st century BC - 1st century AD

height cm 25

The Roman lady is represented with the oval face characterized by rounded chin and slightly-full lips. The eyes are framed by thin modelled brows, arching gracefully and merging with the bridge of her nose. On the short forehead, the wavy hairs are center parted, with the individual strands delineated, which are elegantly pulled back to the nape, in origin probably collected in a chignon. The head is rendered with great restraint and an admirable mixture of realistic and idealized forms, recalling the expressions of beauty in vogue during the late Augustan time and the first decades of Julio-Claudian period. Provenance: Ex Sotheby’s, London 10-11 December 1992, lot 490.

ROMAN MARBLE PORTRAIT OF A CHILD
1st century BC - 1st century AD

height cm 21 (cm 26 with Iron support)

Beautiful portrait of a child caught in the transition to his second childhood. The portrait is characterized by a particular rendering of the physiognomy; the executive details are reminiscent of the early childhood portrait of the Julio-Claudian period. Provided with an iron museal stand. Provenance: From the collection of Mr. U.C., started during 1950s in Brussels; then, collection supplemented by Diplomatic sons until the late 1990s.

ROMAN MARBLE HUNTER
1st - 3rd century AD
atic sons until the late 1990s.
height cm 46,5 (cm 48,5 with Iron support)

Portrayal of a young man, an hunter, as suggested by the game he carries with him. The emaciated body is covered by a robe of animal skin. The strong aesthetic realism that pervades this statue recalls the naturalism of bronze production in Roman times. A close comparison, a twin and specular statue of the same workshop, is preserved in the Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (A231); so, this specimen could be part of a statuary group representing some Divine Twins. Provided with an iron museal stand. Provenance: From the collection of Mr. U.C., started during 1950s in Brussels; then, collection supplemented by Diplom

ROMAN MARBLE TORSO OF HERCULES
1st - 2nd century AD

height (bust) cm 14; total with stand cm 14; length max cm 15

Despite the small size of the torso, the execution of the anatomical features is made with great skill. One immediately recognizes the representation of Hercules knowed as "Farnese" or "Weaky" iconographic type. It represents a mature Hercules, muscular, but tired. The torso is slightly tilted forward, suggesting the presence of the club that, as also in the most known representations, acts as his support. Provided with a Peperino Grigio stone long stand. Provenance: From a collector-entrepreneur of the past who lived between the US and Europe, bought in the 1980s.

ROMAN MARBLE FOOT
1st century BC - 1st century AD

height cm 9; length cm 18

Set on a platform base, this right foot is naturalistically carved, as visible from the details of its toes and nails. Provenance: From the collection of Mr. U.C., started during 1950s in Brussels; then, collection supplemented by Diplomatic sons until the late 1990s.

ROMAN MARBLE LEG
1st - 3rd century AD

height cm 75; length cm 31

Life size standing marble leg laying on support, probably a tree-trunk. It is realized with a particular attention to the anatomy, emphatized by the slow light slipping. Provenance: English private collection, Kent.

ROMAN MARBLE MODEL OF A TEMPLE PODIUM
1st - 2nd century AD

height cm 15; length cm 21,5

Originally a stand belonging to a cult image perhaps linked to the sea, this miniature temple podium has a frontal staircase (perron), dolphins and sea monsters on sides. Provenance: From the collection of Mr. U.C., started during 1950s in Brussels; then, collection supplemented by Diplomatic sons until the late 1990s.

ROMAN MARBLE OSCILLUM FRAGMENT
ca. 1st century AD

height cm 16,5, length cm 11, wide cm 2,5

Usually placed in the Roman villa, decorated reliefs with a forepart of an hare moving to the right on one side, the other side with the rear of a swimming dolphin. Provenance: Ex ACR Auctions, E-Auction 29, Munich 21 September 2015, lot 390.

ROMAN MARBLE TUSCANIC CAPITAL
Julio-Claudian Period, 1st century BC - 1st century AD

height cm 39, diam. base 46, length cm 65 x 65

Of particular beauty and compositional complexity, this capital in Proconnesian marble presents elements dear to the stone tradition of the Augustan period - such as ionic kyma with thin shells adhering to the ovule and open and closed palmettes, alternating with water leaves - which are here, however, interpreted in a new and detailed key that suggests a reworking of the structure for a second use. Provenance: From a collector-entrepreneur of the past who lived between the US and Europe, bought in the 1980s.

ROMAN MARBLE CORINTHIAN CAPITAL ADAPTED TO TABLE
Flavian Period, 1st century AD

height (capital) cm 40; height tot. cm 75; diam. cm 48; round glass top diam. cm 130

A very nice modern table, composed of a wooden covered with marble stepped base, equipped with wheels, and an upper wooden covered with marble disc that acts as a support for the glass top. As leg, a portion of a Roman Marble Capital. Provenance: English old private collection since 1980s, London.

ROMAN MARBLE COLUMN WITH LEAVES
1st - 2nd century AD

height cm 55

Provenance: English private collection, Kent.

ROMAN FLUTED COLUMN IN CIPOLLINO MARBLE
1st - 2nd century AD

height cm 47

Provenance: English private collection, Kent.

ROMAN BASALT ALTAR WITH HELIOPOLITAN DEITIS
2th – 3rd century AD

height cm 40

On each side a portrayal of deity: Apollo Helios, nimbate and radiate; a female head that reminds the Syrian goddess Aphrodite - Astarte; a diademed bearded man with short wavy hair, probably resembling to Zeus Helios; finally Tyche, with turret crown. The whole enriched by repetition of symmetrical couple of stylized phytomorphic elements. A sacre altar of the Roman Province of Syria, an extremely rare specimen, maybe the only one in private hand, beautiful example of the Roman-Oriental Religious syncretism. Provenance: Property of an Italian Noble family since 1980s; with an expert report dated 2005; sold with an export licence issued by the Republic of Italy.

ROMAN MARBLE ALTAR OF THE GENS SCETASIA
1st - 2nd century AD

height cm 36; length cm 46; wide cm 29

Provenance: From the collection of Mr. U.C., started during 1950s in Brussels; then, collection supplemented by Diplomatic sons until the late 1990s.

ROMAN MARBLE GRAVESTONE OF OFILLIA TYCHE
2nd - 3rd century AD

height cm 46 (cm 48,5 with Iron support); length cm 46,5; wide cm 2,5-6

Provided with an iron museal stand. Provenance: From the collection of Mr. U.C., started during 1950s in Brussels; then, collection supplemented by Diplomatic sons until the late 1990s.

ROMAN LIMESTONE GRAVESTONE OF COTTIA AMANDA
1st - 2nd century AD

height cm 52,5; length cm 63,5; wide max cm 10

Provenance: From the collection of Mr. U.C., started during 1950s in Brussels; then, collection supplemented by Diplomatic sons until the late 1990s.

ROMAN MARBLE GRAVESTONE
3rd - 4th century AD

height cm 37; length cm 38; wide cm 3,5

Made reusing a marble threshold; antique patina and old plaster restorations. Provenance: English private collection, acquired by the current owner in Munich in 1990s.

ROMAN MOSAIC FLOOR
2nd - 3rd century AD

height cm 78; length cm 103; wide cm 3,3

Beautiful fragment of Roman mosaic floor corner in a modern frame. The decoration consists of black and white tesserae, composing a vegetal scrolls, in which birds are arranged on. Provenance: From the collection of Mr. U.C., started during 1950s in Brussels; then, collection supplemented by Diplomatic sons until the late 1990s.

LITHOTHÈQUE
21th century

diam. cm 45

Collection of ancient and rare marbles, polished in modern times and arranged in a black frame as precious furnishing; this lithothèque, also called marmothèque, contains several samples of ancient Roman and Greek marbles described by Professor Raniero Gnoli with references taken from his book "Marmora Romana", published in three edition (1971, 1988, 2018). 1) Breccia di Sciro con elementi alabastrini MR pp. 232 sgg. 2) Breccia verde egiziana MR pp. 117-121 3) Granito bianco e nero della Colonna MR pp. 152 4) Giallo antico MR pp. 166-168 5) Bianco e nero antico MR pp. 196-198 6) Granito della sedia minuto MR pp. 153-158. 7) Breccia di Sciro MR p. 232 e sgg.

LITHOTHÈQUE
21th century

diam. cm 45

Collection of ancient and rare marbles, polished in modern times and arranged in a black frame as precious furnishing; this lithothèque, also called marmothèque, contains several samples of ancient Roman and Greek marbles described by Professor Raniero Gnoli with references taken from his book "Marmora Romana", published in three edition (1971, 1988, 2018). 1) Verde antico MR pp. 87-90; 162-165 2) Broccarello di Spagna MR pp. 210-211 3) Portasanta MR pp. 172 e sgg. 4) Bianco e nero antico MR pp. 196-198 5) Pavonazzetto MR pp. 169 e sgg. 6) Alabastro di Palombara MR pp. 225-227.

CYPRIOT AMPHORA WITH NIPPLES BASE
Early Bronze Age, ca. 2400 - 1900 BC

height cm 26; diam. cm 11

Intact. Provenance: English private collection, according to the heirs possibly purchased in some auction or Art Gallery during 1970s-1980s.

NEAR EASTER EARTHENWARE JUGLET
Tell el-Yahudiyeh, 1600 – 1050 BC

height cm 16

Characteized by a tapered globular body, with short cylindrical neck single applied double-handle. The decoration consistes of incised geometric decoration comprising bands of punctured dots. It is a distinctive ceramic ware of the late Middle Bronze Age / Second Intermediate Period. The ware takes its name from its type site at Tell el-Yahudiyeh in the eastern Nile Delta of ancient Egypt, and is also found in a large number of Levantine and Cypriot sites. Provenance: English private collection, purchased in Tehran from Monouchehr Soleiman Aaron in the 1970s, accompanied by a Polaroid with the word "from Amlash (north of Iran)".

EGYPTIAN TURQUOISE GLASS PASTE TORPEDO FLASK
New Kingdom, ca. 1300 BC

height cm 7; diam. cm 2

Small tapered body, with a pointed end; on shoulder, two ovoide horizontal handles. Provenance: French private collection acquired at Galerie Art Olympia on 25 June 1985; ex collection of Revelli Countess.