Lotto 150 | A roman carnelian intaglio. Ritual scene.

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

A roman carnelian intaglio. Ritual scene.

A roman carnelian intaglio. Ritual scene.

2nd century A.D.
8x12x3 mm

The scene is symmetrically composed. On the right, a partially draped female offerer putting offerings on a small altar (she also holds a thyrsus with ribbons flying in the air); in the center, a column with an idol on it, presumably Dionysos with attributes; on the left a satyr with pedum proceeds to the left, like a dionysiac procession. A black vein of the stone coincides with the exact half of the scene, specially chosen for an aesthetic and compositional purpose. Signs of wear.

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U.K. private collection