Bertolami Fine Art - Piazza Lovatelli 1, 00186 Roma
ASTA 267 - GLITTICA ASTA 267 - GLITTICA
venerdì 7 luglio 2023 ore 12:30 (UTC +00:00)
A RARE ROMAN CHALCEDONY INTAGLIO. WILD BOAR WOUNDED BY A PORCUPINE.
A RARE ROMAN CHALCEDONY INTAGLIO. WILD BOAR WOUNDED BY A PORCUPINE.
1st century A.D.
8 x 10 x 3 mm
The subject is uncertain. However, analyzing the representation, it looks like an animal wounded by a porcupine. The quadruped looks like a young wild boar, facing to the left, with the typical elongated snout, short tail, thick and adherent hair, legs with small hooves and a visible penis. The animal seems to be pierced by many quills, which are not arrows. Given the direction of these quills, their quantity and type in relation to the animal depicted, they must belong to and come from a different beast, as a porcupine. The subject is engraved with great realism and great technical skill due to the very small measurements of the convex stone. Wear marks. Very rare.
Provenance: From the collection of an European gentleman, acquired on the art market