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A large Roman agate intaglio. Sphinx on a bell-krater.

£ 2000

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A large Roman agate intaglio. Sphinx on a bell-krater.

£ 2000

Dimensions. 13 × 17 × 3,5 mm
Roman art, 1st-2nd century A.D.
Moutning on request 

A large Roman agate intaglio of oval form, engraved with a sphinx perched on a bell-krater. The unusually generous size of the stone gave the engraver room for a two-register composition, treated with remarkable attention to detail.
The winged sphinx is set upon the lip of the vase, wing displayed and tail raised in a flourish. Below, the bell-krater is rendered with precision: on the neck, a register shows Eros driving a biga drawn by two cockerels — a miniature within the miniature.

Iconography
The sphinx — lion's body, bird's wings, human head — is the enigmatic guardian of the ancient world: perched on a vase, it watches over its contents as it watched over tombs and sanctuaries. The device unites two registers dear to Roman glyptic, the fabulous bestiary and ceremonial vessels. It is worth recalling that Augustus himself first sealed his letters with a sphinx: in Rome the image carried a very particular authority. The krater, vessel of wine and the banquet, lends the composition a Dionysiac echo, reinforced by the Eros charioteer on the neck: races of Cupids driving teams of animals — cockerels, goats, dolphins — count among the most graceful motifs of the Roman decorative repertoire.

Comparanda
– P. Gołyźniak, Roman Engraved Gems in the National Archaeological Museum in Lisbon, no. 69: glass intaglio with two ravens perched on a huge krater. – London, British Museum, inv. 1887,0307.I.408 (collection online): Wedgwood & Bentley black basalt seal-intaglio (c. 1769–1780), covered vase with a bacchanal and a sphinx couchant on the lid — after a cornelian recorded by Lippert (Lipp. II.529; cf. Tassie & Raspe, 1791, nos. 13662–13663), evidence of the type's fortune.

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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