Auction 86 - Glyptics and Ancient Jewelry

A roman carnelian intaglio. Gryllos.

1st century B.C. - 1st century A.D.

12 x 13 x 2 mm

The hybrid representation is composed with the masks of two elderly Sileni and of a young satyr. Apotropaic and magical depiction. Wear marks. Vivid color of the stone.



U.K. private collection

A roman late republian agate intaglio. Actor with mask.

1st century B.C. - 1st century A.D.

11 x 12 x 3 mm

The juvenile face, turned to the left, has on his head (still partially worn over his face) the mask of an old character. The composition can be referred to the gryllos typology, without excluding a certain apotropaic component.



U.K. private collection

A roman republican garnet intaglio. Scorpio with letters.

1st century B.C.

11 x 14 x 13,5 mm

The insect is surrounded by letters: PA - P- I -A . Emblema. The backside of the stone is concave. Use of globular elements. Slight wear marks. Attractive color of the stone.



U.K. private collection

A roman red jasper intaglio. Winged sea horse.

2nd - 3rd century A.D..

18 x 26 x 5 mm

Sea horse turned on the left, forelegs moving. The left wing visible, the right wing hidden by the body of the animal. The hindquarters wound in a spiral, ending in a fishtail. Large size of the stone. Chips on the edge and traces of burns. Slight wear marks. Probably produced by an eastern atelier inspired by graeco persian models.

Parallels : Penn Museum, inv. 29-224-410; Cabinet des Médailles, Paris, Seyrig.1973.1.525.2.

U.K., private collection 70's, in the same family since then.

A roman glass paste intaglio. Winged sow.

1st - 2nd century A.D.

11 x 15 x 3 mm

The winged animal is turned on the left, near a tree. The long wings have curved endings. Groundline. Rare subject.



U.K., private collection 70's, in the same family since then.

A roman chalcedony intaglio. Two cocks.

2nd century A.D.

11 x 15 x 3 mm

One cock, facing left pecking on the ground, while the other next, facing right, keeping the head raised; in the background, an altar. Groundline. Interesting votive scene, well composed. Nice size of the stone.



U.K. private collection

A roman carnelian intaglio. Ant.

2nd-3rd century A.D.

11 x 13 x 3 mm

The insect is holding a wheat seed. Slight wear marks.



U.K. private collection

A roman three-layers agate intaglio. Lobster.

1st century B.C. - 1st century A.D.

10 x 13 x 5 mm

The shellfish is depicted with very detailed naturalistic style. The stone is highly polished in the engraved part. The representation is executed with great skills. Rare.



U.K. private collection, London.

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.

A roman amethyst intaglio. Eagle with prey.

1st - 2nd century A.D.

9 x 9 x 3 mm

The animal is facing right eviscerating a prey: with the claws he holds the hare and with his beak he removes the bowels. The depiction is finely engraved on a bright light purple amethyst. Allegorical scene referring to the strenght and the victory.Little crack on the edge and slight wear marks.



European private collection.

A roman red jasper. Bucolic scene.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

6,5 x 9 x 1,5 mm

The scene is composed with a tree in the center with a bird on branch. On the ground, two ear of corns. Groundline. Wear marks. On the reverse, lack of polishing due to the separation from the iron mounting.



U.K private collection

A lot of three roman gold rings with stones intaglio and glass.

2nd - 4th century A.D.

Carnelian intaglio: 11 x 16 mm; ring diam: 18 mm; 10,26 gr. Banded agate intaglio: 8 x 10mm; ring diam 15 mm; 6,53 gr. Glass paste: 4 x 8 mm; ring 14 x 17 mm; 5,7 gr

From left to right: With an oval-shaped hoop, rounded without and flatten within. The broad shoulders are supporting a flared bezel set with a large carnelian intaglio. The scene is figuring a horse turned to the left and bending toward the ground with open-mouth to grasp something. The upper right leg raised. Groundline. The horse’s mane and the general body volume are well rendered; With rounded hoop and angular-shaped shoulders, respectively set with an oval three-layers agate intaglio depicting a bird turned to left eating a branch.Groundline. And a rectangular green glass paste stone. Very good condition.



UK private collection, London.