WEB AUCTION 106: Glittica

A neoclassical agate cameo. Janiform portrait.

17th-18th century.
19x25x7,5 mm

On the left, male bearded head, on the right, old woman head. Both joined by a folded veille covering the head. Interesting work and choice of the stone. Rare.

"
U.K. private collection

A two-layered agate cameo. Bust of a roman empress.

17th-18th century.
33x43x8 mm

The character is turned to the left and is characterized by a slightly aquiline nose, an eye with an engraved pupil, a large ear, a small mouth and a chin, with a grooved hair pulled back, framed on the forehead and on the nape by two braids placed side by side. The portrait is stylistically referable to the models of the Severian or post Severian dynasty (Giulia Domna, Fulvia Plautilla, Aquilia Severa, Cornelia Supera). Slight wear marks, traces of burns and antique chips on the edge. Inscription engraved on the backside. Interesting work, possibly antique and reworked during the post Renaissance.

"
U.K. private collection

A lot of 2 red-green jasper octogonal inscribed seals.

18th century.
12,5x14x3 mm ; 12x13x3 mm

Both seals with 2 horizontal registers of inscriptions. On top, a square cross between stars. The last registers are years « 1739 » and « 1742 ». Wear marks. To identify. Probably eastern-balcanic area.

"
U.K. private collection

A postclassical two-layered agate cameo. Allegorical figure.

19th century.
15x20x4 mm

The female figure is characterized by butterfly wings, wearing a long chiton knotted at the waist, holding a Swan against her. On top, the sun. Probably an allegory of metamorphosis.

"
U.K. private collection

A group of 6 neoclassical double-layered onyx cameos. Portraits.

19th century.
Min 10x12x4 mm ; max 9x19x5 mm

From left to right; bust of a poet; portrait of Selene; bust of a nobleman; bust of Apollo; head of Arethusa; bust of a laureated poet. Fine condition.

"
U.K. private collection

A lot of 3 postclassical layered agate cameos. Portraits.

18th century.
Min 14x17x5 mm; max 17x21,5x4 mm

Bust of Apollo; portrait of a young man, probably Hercules; bust of a noblewoman.

"
U.K. private collection

A lot of 5 postclassical cameos. Varia.

18th century.
Min 8x10x5 mm ; max 13x16,5x3 mm

From left to right; a three-headed portrait (gryllos type); portrait of a veiled woman (priestress ?); portrait of a Youth; portrait of helmeted Minerva; traveller standing with a stick and his dog.

"
U.K. private collection

A renaissance carnelian intaglio. Dolphin.

16th century.
10x12x3 mm

The sea animal faces right, and is depicted above the waves of the sea. Its back is arched, the body covered with scales, the tail with three endings. Interesting stylistic rendering, typically from the Renaissance production. Carving made with skill respect the small size of the stone. Attractive intense color. Slightly cabochon back.

"
U.K. private collection

A postclassical carnelian intaglio. Neptune.

16th-17th century.
13x16x3 mm

The divinity is facing front on a shell, his mermaid tail divided in two with monstrous snakes endings. Behind him, his trident. Shield and dolphin on the side. His head facing left is characterized by a large plain face and short hair. Backbones rising from the shoulders. Interesting subject. Small ald light crack in the stone, near the edge.

"
U.K. private collection

A postclassical amethyst intaglio. Sacrifice to Priapus.

17th-18th century.
10x14x6 mm

Pan is standing facing left, sacrificing a rabbit on the altar of Priapus. The rural context of the scene is symbolized by the tree. The figure is characterized by strong features, curly hair, goat horns. The torso is slender but muscular, the legs sturdy and covered with goat hair, ending with hooves. His left hand holds the pedum, aside the pan flute. The phallic symbolism is clearly evident in this carving: both for the prominent attributes of the character and for the presence of the erect phallus carved on the altar, dedicated to Priapus and with burning flames and offerings. The stone shows ancient signs of wear and a predominantly ancient roman style. This amethyst is characterized by an extraordianry vivid and luminous color, accentuated by the gem's cabochon shape.

"
U.K. private collection

A modern amethyst intaglio set in a gold stick pin. Winged female figure.

19th century
Intaglio : 7 x 13 mm Pin : 73 mm 3,59 g

The standing allegorical figure is facing right, holding a branch. This precious intaglio is mounted on a fine gold stick pin characterized by a refined frame worked by intertwined and spherical elements. Very fine condition.

"
U.K. private collection

A banded agate female bust set in a gold stick pin.

18th century
H. 95 mm ; 8,36 grs

The figure is characterized by a veiled head, partially draped torso with large exposed breasts. The bust is finely sculpted, emphasizing in the best way the beauty of this banded agate, engraving the body in the dark part and the drapery in the light part of the stone. The nose is damaged. This microsculpture is set in an elegant mounting adorned with plant motif, finely chiseled.

"
U.K. private collection

A postclassical coral cameo mounted in a gold broch with brillants. Bust of a woman.

Late 19th century
31x26x14 mm (broch) ; 24x17x9 mm (cameo) ; 13,6 grs

Bust of a woman wearing a antique style dress. The bust frontal, meanwhile the head is slightly bent in three-quarters. The hair pulled back in a bun, she wears a diadema. The iconography suggests a depiction of a goddess or a empress. The cameo is set in a gold brooch, the rim decorates with brilliants (some missing).

"
U.K. private collection

A postclassical coral stick knob with silver handle. Gryllos

19th century
55x51 mm ; 34,7 grs

The upper of this stick terminal shows a sculpted three-headed gryllos; a grotesque mask, a dog head and a lion head. The clasp in silver inlaid with turquoise and garnets. Interesting rare subject.

"
U.K. private collection

A large two-layered agate cameo set in a Victorian gilded massive silver sauf box. Veiled bust of Flora.

19th century
Cameo 32x42 mm ; Box 63x77x37 mm

The female bust is turned to the right side. The figure is characterized by thick hair adorned with a flowers wreath. The head is veiled and the bust is draped. The stone is set in a fine boxe finely engraved, adorned with a garland frame on the edge. Very fine condition. Octagonal mark: Helmeted head of Minerva (1st title), facing right. French manufacture since 1838.

"
U.K. private collection

A neoclassical onyx cameo set in a gold brooch with pearls. Bust of Apollo.

Second half of the 19th century
Cameo 16x22 mm ; 15 grs

The young god, identifiable with the Apollo Belvedere model, faces right and is wearing a tunique with chlamys. Beautiful victorian gold brooch with pearls. This prototype has been widely copied and reproduced also on cameos, inspired by the famous statue of the Vatican. For example, the cameo engraved by Saulini in the parure of the Metropoliotan Museum (inv..40.20.55a–c). A very fine exemple of this type comes from the production on Nathaniel Marchant.

Parallels: Catalogue of One Hundred Impressions from Gems engraved by Nathaniel Marchant, J.Edwards, London, 1792, pg. 10, no. XIV, for a listing of a sardonyx intaglio of the Apollo Belvedere, commissioned by the politician J. Cox Hippisley, 1st Baronet (1746-1825). Seidmann, Nathaniel Marchant, Gem Engraver, 1739-1816, The Walpole Society,LIII, 1987, pg.41-2, no.11, mentions that this design of the Apollo Belvedere was particularly popular, and Marchant carved several intaglios of it.

"
U.K. private collection

A two-layered agate cameo mounted on a gold brooch. Female bust.

19th century
38x47x26 mm ; 28,92 grs

The figure, characterized by a detailed engraved hair, held in place by a double band and gathered at the nape, is turned to the left, with front bust and face turned in profile. The figure is in torsion, the face looks down. Plastic pose inspired by classical Greek-Roman statuary models.A very well executed work in very high relief. Gold brooch with a frame decorated with circular and curved motifs with smooth or braided wire.

"
U.K. private collection

A large neoclassical carnelian intaglio. Diogenes.

18th - 19th century.
22x26x4 mm

The philosopher is showing seated with his typical attributes: a book, a stick inside a large jar; here symbolized by engraved circles and on the background horizontal ligns imitating the bottom of a barrel. Interesting work and execution. Rare subject.
Painting of Diogene by Raphael in the School of Athens ; Diogenes by John William Waterhouse, 1882, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney.
"
U.K. private collection

A neoclassical banded agate intaglio. Bust of Esculape.

19th century
19x19x5 mm

The god of medecine is facing left and characterized by an intense look releasing the serenity and divine strength, enhanced by the rest of the features: a strong aquiline nose, high cheekbone, small closed lips framed by a curly voluminous beard joining the hair on the side. The hair are divided in two by a band that narrows the skullcap with thin incised ligns. He wears a cloack. Interesting choice of stone. Fine execution. Mirror polishing.

"
U.K. private collection

A large neoclassical carnelian intaglio. Allegory of Aurora.

Early 19th century.
32x35x5 mm

The divinity is represented riding a biga above clouds. On top, a winged Eros holding a torch. In front of the biga, a star. Very nice polishing of the engraving. Fine execution, close to the Pichler's and Cerbara's intaglios with the same subject. Attractive vivid color. Slight wear marks.

"
U.K. private collection

A fine neoclassical carnelian intaglio signed CERBARA, mounted in a gold pendant. Bust of Maria Luisa di Borbone.

19th century.
27x46x4 mm (pendant) ; 21x27x4 mm (intaglio) ; 10,2 grs

This splendid and important intaglio executed by Giuseppe Cerbara (1770-1856) depicts the portrait of Maria Luisa di Borbone (1782-1824), wife of Ludovico di Borbone-Parma and mother of Carlo Ludovico. She was Queen of Etruria (1801-1807), duchess of Lucca (1815-1824). The gems was previously reported in Alexander von Wuttemberg collection, and attested in the Paoletti as « Maria Luisa Infante di Spagna sua Madre ». The portrait is engraved with the highest quality and beauty. Behind, on her shoulder, then signature CERBARA. Attractive color of the stone, with honey shades, masterfully polished. The high carat gold mounting is posterior, using the piece as a pendant. Very good state of conservation.
L.Pirzio Biroli Stefanelli, La collezione Paoletti. Stampi in vetro per impronte di intagli e cammei, vol. II, p. 145 n. 289 (tomo sesto).
"
European private collection.

A neoclassical glass intaglio signed PICHLER mounted on a gold seal. Eros.

19th century.
Intaglio 25x19 mm ; 13 grs

Beautiful impression taken from an intaglio firmed in greek by PICHLER and inspired by the Centocelle Eros (Vatican Museums, Pio Clementino Museum, Gallery of the Statues); back then called « Genio del Vaticano ». Originally, a sardonyx intaglio made in 1782, replicated also in cameo. The glass is set in an elegant mounting for seal formed by 4 mixtlinear extensions and ending in a jockstrap ring. Slight signs of wear.
L.Pirzio Biroli Stefanelli, La collezione Paoletti. Stampi in vetro per impronte di intagli e cammei, vol. II, p. 40 n. 199.
"
U.K. private collection

A fine postclassic silver seal set with brillants and emeralds and a roman lapis lazuli intaglio. Allegory of Victory.

18th century.
Intaglio 11x12 mm ; high 47 mm ; 9,4 grs

The seal is characterized by a complex structure in silver and yellow gold, set with diamonds and emeralds. Below, an ancient lapis lazuli intaglio depicting a winged Victory crowning a trophy. Above, the seal ends with a small dark head of moor, covered with black and white enamel, with a jockstrap ring. Refined object in excellent condition. Slight signs of wear.

"
U.K. private collection

A fine neoclassical three layer agate intaglio, set in a postclassical gold ring. Two dogs copulating.

18th - 19th century
intaglio 19x19x6 mm ; US ring size 7.5 ; 13,4 grs

Rare and unusual representation of two dogs caught in the act of copulating. The two quadrupeds are facing right, inside an ancient Roman residence as symbolized by the presence of a three-footed candelabrum with a lamp on one side, and a jug on the other side. Ground line. The animals are characterized by a marked musculature well engraved in its anatomical details: the effort of the dog that mounts is also expressed by the arching of the vertebral column (whose bones can be seen) and of the thoracic cavity, together with the swelling of the muscles of the thighs and shoulders. His face is leaning upwards, as a sign of success, while the receiving dog is slightly bent forward. Both have the collar. Use of globular elements for the eyes. The carving is performed on a large three-layered sardonyx agate magic eye. The surface shows ancient signs of wear and in transparency also the signs of heat burn. The gem is set in an elegant 19th century gold ring. Grand Tour era. Rare subject.
Cfr.: Beazley Archive n. 90. Two dogs copulating, intaglio in red jasper, shape F1, 12 x 10, 1st cent. BC/AD.
"
U.K. private collection