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A large Greek Late hellenistic Bloodstone intaglio. Bull with snake.

Price on request

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A large Greek Late hellenistic Bloodstone intaglio. Bull with snake.

Price on request

Intaglio: 18 × 22 x 3 mm - Mounting on request
Late Hellenistic, 3rd-2nd century B.C.E
Possibly repolished later

The oval gem of fine heliotrope — a deep green chalcedony richly speckled with vivid scarlet inclusions of iron oxide — engraved with a powerful bull striding to the left, head lowered and tail raised in a vigorous S-curve, the front hooves rearing to crush a coiled serpent that rises menacingly from the groundline. The animal is rendered with notable anatomical precision: the swelling musculature of the shoulder and haunches, the taut tendons of the legs, the rippling dewlap and the alert, almost wrathful expression of the head are observed with the assured naturalism characteristic of the finest late Hellenistic glyptic production. The reptile, sinuously coiled and rearing in opposition, completes a composition of remarkable narrative tension.

The subject — the noble quadruped triumphing over the chthonic serpent — constitutes one of the most enduring allegories of the ancient world: the victory of virtue (aretē) and courage over the snares of evil, the eternal struggle between the celestial and the terrestrial. The motif draws upon a venerable Near Eastern and Greek iconographic tradition in which the bull, emblem of generative strength and solar power, is opposed to the serpent, embodiment of chaos and deceit.

The choice of bloodstone — lapis sanguinarius of the ancients — confers upon the gem an additional apotropaic dimension: the crimson droplets dispersed within the verdant matrix were anciently understood as drops of blood, lending the stone protective and curative virtues, particularly esteemed as a talisman against bodily harm and as a guardian of valour.

The extraordinary chromatic quality of the material, combined with the confident and sculptural treatment of the engraving, place this intaglio among the finest surviving examples of its type.

For a closely related composition, cf. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, inv. 81.6.41.
Old French private collection, from the 1950's-1970's
Previously in a french private collection, Paris
Private collection U.K, purchased on the UK art market
HENIG, Martin, A Corpus of Roman Engraved Gemstones from British Sites, n.214

Each piece of jewellery is delivered with an authentification certificate signed by Bianca Massard and Gabriele Vangelli de Cresci experts, including additional documentation if existing and exhaustive description of the piece.
Pictures are part of the description and show state of conservation of the item. For additional pictures please contact us. (see contact section)

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Each piece of jewellery is delivered with an authentification certificate signed by Bianca Massard and Gabriele Vangelli de Cresci experts, including additional documentation if existing and exhaustive description of the piece.
Pictures are part of the description and show state of conservation of the item. For additional pictures please contact us. (see contact section)

Shipping and pick-up at the store options can be chosen during check out.

Our exclusive delivery partner is ThePackengers.
ThePackengers, specialized in the packaging and transport of works of art and collectibles, already collaborates with the largest auction houses as Drouot, but also with galleries, fairs, antique dealers, decorators and e-marketplaces.
See our Country List
Shipping Terms and Conditions.
Privacy Policy ThePackengers.

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