Auction 86 - Glyptics and Ancient Jewelry

A large roman italic chalcedony intaglio. Dionysos with mask.

2nd-1st century B.C.

13 x 21 x 3 mm

The young god is elegantly leaning against a column, in the act of contemplating a theatrical mask. Behind his shoulders, the thyrsus. His body is partially naked (only the legs are draped) and has a well-engraved musculature with delicate anatomical volumes. Numerous details are rendered with globular elements. Groundline. The elegant depiction is inspired by hellenistic models. Attractive size and color of the stone. Slight wear marks.



U.K. private collection, Surrey.

A roman italic banded agate intaglio. Pegasus.

2nd century B.C.

10 x 17 x 2 mm

The mythological winged creature is facing left. Use of globular elements. Wear marks. Chipping on the edge. Attractive vivid color of the stone.



U.K. private collection, London.

A roman italic banded agate intaglio. Seagoat.

2nd-1st century B.C.

7 x 10,5 x 1,5 mm

The marine creature is turned on the left side and characterized by a goat protome ending with a fish tail. Use of globular elements. Attractive color of the stone. Slight wear marks.



U.K. private collection, London.

A roman carnelian intaglio. Sea-goat.

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

10 x 13 x 4 mm


The creature is facing left. Slight wear marks. Attractive color of the stone.



U.K. private collection, London.

A roman italic chalcedony intaglio. Pegasus with inscription and allegorical attributes.

1st century B.C.

12 x 13 x 2 mm

Pegasus facing left, above a rudder. Around: SAVFEIVS - EROS - M.
Allegorical emblema referred to the abundance and to the prosperity.
Use of globular elements. Slight wear marks.



U.K., private collection 70's, in the same family since then.

A roman italic carnelian intaglio. Horse.

2nd century B.C.

11 x 15 x 3 mm

The animal is turned towards the left side. The anatomical details engraved with globular elements. Slight wear marks.



U.K private collection, London.

A roman italic carnelian intaglio. Antelope with poppy flower.

2nd-1st century B.C.

11 x 12 x 2 mm

The quadruped is facing left, near a large poppy flower. Groundline. Use of globular elements. Slight wear marks.



U.K private collection, London.

A roman carnelian intaglio. A goat under a tree.

1st century B.C.

12 x 13 x 4 mm

The animal lifts its front legs to lean on a trunk of a tree and eats its leaves. Groundline. Bucolic scene. Use of globular elements. Wear marks.



U.K private collection, London.

A roman banded agate intaglio. Bull.

1st-2nd century A.D.

9 x 12 x 3,5 mm

The animal is turned on the left and characterized by a heavy body with the musculature in evidence. Groundline. Convex surface.



U.K private collection, London.

A roman italic burnt sard intaglio. Bull.

2nd century A.D.

9 x 12 x 2 mm

The animal is turned on the left. Anatomical details engraved with globular elements. Groundline. The stone is partially burnt with missing material on the surface.



U.K private collection, London.

A roman carnelian intaglio. Two heifers.

2nd century A.D.

8 x 13 x 4 mm

The two quadrupeds, grazing and sticked to each other (one on the first ground, the other in background). Groundline. Slight wear marks.



U.K private collection, London.

A roman carnelian intaglio. Bull with a star.

2nd-3rd century A.D.

6 x 7,5 x 2 mm

The charging bull is depicted under a star. Astrological allegory. Groundline. Chipping on the edge.



U.K private collection, London.

A roman carnelian intaglio. Goat.

1st-2nd century A.D.

13 x 16 x 2 mm

The animal, under a bush, is running towards the right side. Bucolic scene. Chipping under the groundline.



U.K private collection, London.

A roman yellow jasper intaglio. Lion.

2nd-3rd century A.D.

11 x 13 x 2 mm

The animal is turned on the left side, rising his front legs. Groundline. Little chipping s on the edge. Slight wear marks.



U.K private collection, London.

A roman nicolo intaglio set in an ancient iron fragmentary ring. Lion with crescent moon.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

Intaglio : 9 x 12 Mounting : 13 x 22 mm

The powerful feline is turned on the left side. Above, a crescent moon. Groundline. Allegorical depiction with astrological and magical meaning. Wear marks. Fragmentary iron mounting.



U.K private collection, London.

A roman carnelian intaglio. Sphinx.

2nd century A.D.

10 x 12 x 4 mm

The winged creature is turned on the left side with the body, turning back the head in three-quarters. Groundline. Unusual pose. Slight wear marks. Vivid color of the stone.



U.K private collection, London.

A roman carnelian intaglio. Pegasus.

2nd century A.D.

9 x 10,5 x 2 mm

The winged creature is turned to the left side, raising the front right leg. Groundline. Slight wear marks. Light chipping on the edge.



U.K. private collection, London.

A roman carnelian intaglio. Horse with military trophy.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

11 x 13 x 4 mm

The mighty animal heads to the left, turning its head back; in front of him a military trophy composed of lorica surmounted by a helmet and below a shield. Groundline. Wear marks. Chipping on the edge.



U.K. private collection, London

A roman carnelian intaglio. Bull.

2nd-3rd century A.D.

8 x 11 x 2 mm

The animal is turned on the left. Groundline. Slight wear marks.



U.K private collection, London.

A roman carnelian intaglio. Centaur with attributes.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

11 x 12 x 2 mm

The mythological creature is turned to the left, in the act of playing the lyre. Behind it appears a thyrsus as a reference to the Dionysian processions. Groundline.



U.K. private collection, London

A roman carnelian intaglio. Centaur with a child.

2nd century A.D.

8 x 10 x 2 mm

The mythological scene is probably related to the childhood of Achilles, who was raised by the centaur Chiron. A small boy is in fact depicted here on the back of a centaur, who turns back to him offering an object. Interesting subject. Slight wear marks. Chipping on the edge.



U.K. private collection, London.

A fine roman red jasper intaglio. Centaur with attributes.

1st - 2nd century A.D.

12 x 15 x 2,5 mm

The mythological creature is facing left, with one leg raised, showing the horse's body in profile and the human torso almost frontally. With his right hand he holds a plate with offerings (votive scene), while with his left he holds the pedum.The head is in profile and is characterized by a thick beard and hair. Fine execution for the anatomical details, after the classical greek models. A chip on the edge. Slight wear marks.



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

A rare roman garnet intaglio. Hybrid female creature.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

9 x 12 x 3 mm

The monstrous creature is formed by a human body with bird legs, similar to the harpies (which are usually winged). The figure advances to the left, holding a purse for money with her right hand and a palm frond with her left. Apotropaic depiction referable to good luck. Attractive vivid color of the convex stone. Mirror polishing. Rare and unusual iconography.



U.K. private collection, London.

A roman red jasper intaglio. Gryllos.

2nd century A.D.

8 x 10 x 2 mm

The hybrid composition is formed by a silenus mask with an elephant head terminal on the top (referred to the Africa); a young satyr mask and a bearded man mask. Apotropaic gem. Attractive vivid color of the stone.



U.K. private collection