Lotto 81 | A roman banded agate intaglio. Sphinx.

Bertolami Fine Art - Riversdell Close 27, KT16 9JW Chertsey

A roman banded agate intaglio. Sphinx.

A roman banded agate intaglio. Sphinx.

2nd century A.D.

10 x 11 x 2 mm

The mythological creature is facing left and characterized by a human head and a lion body with wings on its back. Presented, the lower body bent toward the floor, the sphinx shows an elegant posture that refering to the traditional classical greek representations. The wing feathers, the nose and the mouth details are rendered by short engraved lines. Groundline. Attractive variety of the stone.



U.K. private collection, London.