Auction 86 - Glyptics and Ancient Jewelry

A roman carnelian intaglio. Allegorical emblema.

2nd century A.D.

9 x 12 x 2 mm

A modius is surmounted by a balance; above: two clasped hands holding an ear of corn, a palm branch and a caduceus (dextrarum junctio). Allegorical emblema referred to abundance, luck and union. Slight wear marks.



U.K private collection

A late roman two-layers agate cameo. Dextrarum junctio.

3rd - 4th century A.D.

8 x 11 x 3,5 mm

Two clasped hands. Allegorical depiction of the military and political alliance, as for a marriage. Wear marks. Chipping on the edge.



U.K. private collection

A roman carnelian intaglio. Allegorical emblema with two inscribed modius and mask.

1st century A.D.

11,5 x 13 x 3 mm


The emblematic representation is composed of two Modii, separated in the center by an instrument resting on the container on the right. Above the right container: AV; on the left container, which contains two ears of wheat: OTI.
In the field, the letters: A-V-C. Above, a frontal mask on crescent moon. Groundline.
Unusual allegorical emblem, executed with great skill and compositional symmetry. The subject is probably referred to a corporation. Attractive color of stone. Slight wear marks. Rare.



U.K private collection, London.

A roman carnelian intaglio. Dextrarum junctio with letters.

1st century B.C. - 2nd century A.D.

9 x 12 x 2 mm

Two clasped hands, holding one ear of corn, a poppy flower and a branch; above the hands, the letter F-I (probably, FIDELITAS). Allegorical emblema referable to a marriage with auspicious of abundance and good luck. Slight wear marks.



U.K private collection

A roman republican sard intaglio. Allegorical emblem.

1st century B.C.

12 x 14 x 2 mm

In a vertical position, one hand is holding a poppy flower and two ears of wheat which elegantly hang downwards. Use of globular elements. Allegorical emblema referred to good luck, abundance and prosperity. Wear marks.



U.K. private collection

A large roman carnelian intaglio. Crescent moon with seven stars.

2nd century A.D.

13 x 17 x 3 mm

Allegorical emblema with astrological references . Slight wear marks.

Parallels: U. Pannuti, Catalogo della collezione glittica, vol. II, p. 294.

U.K private collection

A roman deep red carnelian intaglio. Winged thunderbolt.

1st - 2nd century A.D.

10 x 13 x 3 mm

The emblematic depiction is inspired by coin issues (Divus Augustus Pater, AE dupondius - winged thunderbolts). Mirror polishing. Attractive color of the stone.



U.K private collection

Gold cufflinks with silver gem-impression. A roman green chalcedony intaglio. Warship with dolphins.

1st-3rd century A.D.

intaglio : 17 x 21 mm
Weight (cufflinks) : 16,92 g

The warship sails to the right and is characterized by a wild boar-headed rostrum, a high aplustre, oars at sea and a large, partially open sail; on board, 3 helmeted soldiers armed with spears and shields. On the rostrum there is an armed soldier (presumably the leader highlighted in a certain allegorical sense ?). At the bottom of the ship: the helmsman. At sea, two dolphins. This specimen, engraved on a precious large green chalcedony, finds a very similar comparison with a specimen preserved at The Hermitage Museum. Slight wear marks. The stone is set in a gold mounting as a cufflink. The lot include a nice toned silver impression.

Parallels: The sails of Hellas. Seafaring in the ancient world. The State Hermitage Museum (Exhibition Catalogue), St; Petesburg 2010, p. 186 n. 101 inv. ΓP 22776.

European private collection.

A roman italic sard intaglio. Two dolphins above a ship.

2nd-1st century B.C.

10 x 14 x 2 mm

The two sea creatures are depicted on a military ship as an allegorical emblem. The ship is characterized by rostrum. Use of globular elements. Attractive color of the stone. Slight wear marks.



U.K private collection, London.

A roman carnelian intaglio. Galley with figures.

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

12 x 13 x 2,5 mm

A galley with eight figures holding round shields; the warship has the rostrum and the aplustre, the sail closed and the ropes pulled. Below, the waves of the sea (for a similar representation of the boat see the carnelian intaglio, Berlin, inv. FG6880). Interesting detailed work. Attractive color of the stone. Wear marks. Rare.

Parallels: Antike Gemmen in Deutschen Sammlungen, Band II, Staatliche Museen Preubischer Kultubesitz Antikenabteilung- Berlin, p. 176 n. 476.

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

A roman nicolo intaglio set in a massive gold ring. Tree.

1st-3rd century A.D.

intaglio : 6 x 9 mm
ring diam : 12 x 16 mm
8,86 g

In a central position, a tree, a symbol of strength and prosperity. The small stone is finely engraved and shows slight signs of wear.



U.K private collection, London.

A roman republican amethyst intaglio. Two skeletons with amphora.

1st century B.C.

16 x 21 x 3,5 mm

The two skeletons are standing and symmetrically flank a large wine amphora, depicted in a central position.
The skeleton on the right is held in the amphora with one hand and with the other crowns with a laurel wreath his companion, who leans peacefully against the oblong container. Groundline. The highly allegorical scene refers to death and the pleasures of life, between the memento mori and a hymn to the triumph of life that continues even after death.
This representation is attested in the late roman republican repertoire and is probably inspired by similar representations present on the mosaics.
Presence of globular elements. Wear marks and slight small crack.
Intaglio engraved with great skill (without excluding a certain sense of irony) on a very clear variety of amethyst, which well alludes to the wine and the Dionysian sphere. Very rare.

Parallels: Antike Gemmen in Deutschen Sammlungen, Band IV, Hannover und Hamburg, n. 468; Antike Gemmen in Deutschen Sammlungen, Band II, Staatliche Museen Preubischer Kultubesitz Antikenabteilung- Berlin, n. 421 inv. FG6518.

U.K., private collection 70's, London.

A roman republican carnelian intaglio. Shoe of a haruspex.

1st century B.C.

9 x 10 x 2 mm

The Aruspice was a priest whi predicted the future analyzing animals viscera. His attributes and distinctive signs were the ituus and the typical shoe with curved raised point/rear termination. In this gem the shoe is facing left. Groundline. Use of globular elements. Attractive color of the stone. Rare.

Parallels: Antike Gemmen in Deutschen Sammlungen, Band IV, Hannover und Hamburg, n. 237 p. 65.

Monte-Carlo private collection, Mr. P.L, 1982

A roman carnelian intaglio. Winged victory.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

7 x 9 x 3 mm

The figure, facing left, holds a laurel wreath with the left hand and a palm branch with the right. Groundline.



U.K. private collection

A roman carnelian intaglio. Victory with a trophy.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

14 x 15 x 2 mm

The winged personification of the victory is turned on the left side, with draped legs, putting a shield on a military trophy (in the same position, the victory is usually depicted also writing on the shield). Slight wear marks.



U.K. private collection

A roman late republican amethyst intaglio. Victory with attributes.

1st century B.C.

8 x 11 x 4 mm

The draped and winged figure is turned to the left, holding the palm branch with the right hand and the laurel wreath with the left one. Use of globular elements. Light crack in the stone. Attractive variety of light colored amethyst with darker purple hues.



U.K. private collection

A large roman carnelian intaglio. Artemis.

2nd century A.D.

13 x 15 x 3 mm

The goddess of the hunt faces left, and wears a short tunic with a cloak; the quiver can be seen on the shoulders. The figure holds a frond with her left hand just above a column, while she brings her right hand towards her face. Behind the small column is the deer, her sacred animal. Votive and devotional representation referable to the cult of Artemis. Beautiful composition. Attractive color of the stone. Chipping on the edge.



U.K private collection, London.

A roman late republican garnet intaglio. Apollo citharedus.

1st century B.C.

9 x 13 x 3 mm

The naked deity is seated on top of the rocks, surrounded by plants. The figure is depicted with the front torso and legs slightly turned to the right. The body is characterized by a well accentuated musculature. With his left hand he holds the lyre in its typical pose inspired by classical Greek models. Ground line. Use of globular elements. Wear marks. Chipping on the edge. Attractive color of the stone.



U.K private collection, London.

A rare roman emerald intaglio. Artemis with a magical inscription.

1st - 2nd century A.D.

8 x 10 x 3 mm

The divinity of hunting is turned to the right. With his right hand she takes an arrow from the quiver, with his left hand she holds the bow. The young figure wears a short tunic. Dotted frame with ovoid elements around the goddess. Groundline. In the backside, magical inscription- symbols. Magical amulet with protective and votive function. Attractive precious stone. Slight wear marks. Very rare.

Parallel: U. Pannuti, Catalogo della collezione glittica, vol. I, p. 45 n. 63 (probably, from the same atelier).

U.K., private collection 70's, London.

A roman late republican amethyst intaglio. Emblema.

End of 1st century B.C.

14 x 17 x 5 mm

In the center, a Pileus between two daggers; in the field, the letters TI-LI and a crescent moon.The emblem is apparently inspired by the well known representation found on some rare coins minted under M. Brutus (for example, se the extraoronary Q. Servilius Caepio (M. Junius) Brutus AV Aureus.
Military mint travelling with Brutus in the East, late summer-autumn, 42 B.C. L. Plaetorius Cestianus, moneyer. Bare head of Brutus to right; BRVT above, IMP before, L • PLAET • CEST behind / Pileus between two daggers of differing design, their points downwards; below, EID • MAR. A. Campana, Eidibus Martiis (forthcoming), 13 (O1/R6) and pl. 1,13 (this coin); Crawford; Sydenham; BMCRR - etc.). However, the gem seems to have different references and names, to be identified (“TILI” as an abbreviation of Atili?).
Since there is no written reference to the Ides of March as in the coins, but an unidentified name, the meaning of this emblem is not entirely identifiable, probably referable to Brutus and his tyrannicide, perhaps by one of his political follower. The presence of the moon refers to an augural, magical but also commemorative value of the stone.This intaglio is characterized by stylistic details typical of the late Roman republican style, such as the globular elements, the rendering of the letters and daggers (as in the coins), in the composition and in the shape / choice of the stone variety (a very clear amethyst, almost transparent, with dark purple shades). The gem is expertly engraved and polished (the blades of the daggers take on a sharp and deadly aspect). The stone is characterized by signs of wear on the entire surface. Rare.



U.K., private collection A.L., 70's-80's, London.

A roman carnelian intaglio. Fortuna-Tyche.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

9 x 13 x 4 mm

The personification of the abundance is standing, draped and turned to the right.
In the left hand: the rudder; in the right hand: cornucopia. Slight wear marks.



U.K private collection

A roman red jasper intaglio. Tyche-Fortuna.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

8,5 x 11 x 2,5 mm

The personification of abundance is standing, and she holds the cornucopia with a drapery in his right hand, the rudder, a poppy flower and a ear of corn in her left hand. Groundline.



U.K private collection

A roman carnelian intaglio. Fortuna-Tyche.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

10 x 12 x 2 mm

The personification of the abundance is seated on the rudder, facing left; with the right hand she holds the rudder, with the left she holds the cornucopia. Rare and unusual allegorical depiction. Slight wear marks.



U.K private collection

A roman carnelian intaglio. Offerer.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

10 x 15 x 4 mm

The standing and draped female figure is turned to the left. With both hands, she offers a small amphora to an idol on top of a column. Votive scene. Slight wear marks.



U.K private collection, London.