ASTA 107 - Glittica

A roman banded agate intaglio. Centaur.

2nd century A.D.

A fine depiction of a bearded centaur, holding a laurel wreath in his left hand, and a branch in the right hand. The mythological creature is facing left. Beautiful banded stone charaterized by a progressive transition from dark to honey and transparent tones, interrupted in the middle by an elegant white band. Slight wear marks.

11 x 14 x 2 mm.

A roman carnelian intaglio. Ganymede with the eagle.

2nd century A.D.

The young Ganymede is kidnapped by Zeus who turned into an eagle. The majestic bird of prey spreads its wings to ascend to Olympus, carrying the beautiful Ganymede who wears the phrygian cap. Beautiful composition for this mythological episode referable to the Love. Slight wear marks.

9 x 12 x 4 mm

A roman carnelian intaglio set in a gold ring. Perseus and Andromeda.

2nd century A.D.

The hero is standing, with the body turned to the left but with the head to the right. With his right hand he holds the sword, while with the left he holds the head of Medusa. The hero is naked and wears only a cloak and a phrygian hat. On the right is Andromeda, seated on a rock, holding her shield. Chip on the edge. The scene is well composed, probably inspired by a lost mosaic or fresco (mosaics show a similar scene, with Perseus holding the sword in the act of showing Andromeda the head of Medusa as from Pompei, than Naples, Archeological Museum). The large gem is set in a fine later mounting; the hoop of the ring ends with three leaves to support the bezel. Wear marks. Rare. 

Stone 17 x 21 mm; ring size 13 x 19 mm; 7,74 gr.

A fine roman nicolo intaglio. Hercules with Cerberus.

2nd century A.D.

The hero is standing under a tree, facing left, with the body and the head slightly in three quarter. With his right hand he supports the leontea and keeps Cerberus on a leash; with the left he holds the club. The stone is broken in two parts and has numerous cracks and a lack. Beautiful execution.

16 x 20 x 4 mm.

A fine early roman carnelian intaglio set in a gold ring. Omphale.

1st century B.C.

Very fine representation of Omphale, standing and facing left. The young figure holds the club with both hands, and wears the leontea. Every detail is engraved with great technical and artistic mastery. The hair is engraved with great refinement, as the soft anatomical volumes and the pose of the legs, inspired by greek statuary models. Groundline. Presence of two letters in the field. The gem is broken into two pieces, held in place by the ring.

Stone 9 x 16 mm; ring size diam. 17 mm; 4,79 gr.

A large early roman carnelian intaglio. Apollo.

1st century B.C.

The divinity is standing, with the frontal body and the head turned to the right in three quarters. The god leans on a column with his left arm, while with his right he holds the lyre. The young body is partially draped, with the torso and hips uncovered. The head is characterized by long hair that falls to the shoulders. The pose is elegant, inspired by the hellenistic greek models. Intaglio engraved with great technical and artistic skill. Mirror polishing. Slight wear marks.

15 x 24 x 4 mm.

A late roman gold ring with filigree set with a nicolo intaglio. Apollo.

3rd - 4th century A.D.

Hoop composed of a fluted band of gold, with a beaded wire on either side of it. These wires branch outwards at the shoulders, and the spaces thus formed are filled with double spirale in wire, with globules interspersed. The bezel is formed by an oval nicolo intaglio in gold setting. The intaglio depicts the god Apollo standing naked, with crossed-legs, his right arm leaning on a column, his hand holding an olive branch, meanwhile his left hand rests on his pelvis. Beautiful conservation of the ring and quality of the stone.
Parallel: Marshall, F.H., Catalogue of the finger rings, British Museum, 1968, Pl.XXII, 868-869

Stone 12 x 16 mm; ring size 17,5 x 19 mm; 8,62 gr.

A fine roman amethyst intaglio. Fortuna-Tyche.

1st - 2nd century A.D.

The allegorical figure is standing, facing right. With her left hand she holds the rudder; the cornucopia in her right. This gem is characterised by an extraordinary color, mirror polished, with cabochon surface. The intaglio is executed with great refinement.

11x15x6 mm

A rare roman green chalcedony intaglio. Hercules defeats Anteus.

1st - 2nd century A.D.

The hero defeats Antaeus by lifting him off the ground. The scene refers to an episode of the myth of Hercules. Rare subject. Chipping below, on the feets of the figures. Wear marks. Parallel: Cabinet des Médailles - BNF database: intaglio inv.58.1771B. bague à intaille "Hercule luttant contre Antée". Hercule luttant contre Antée qu’il a soulevé de terre. La massue est tombée par terre, entre les pieds d’Hercule. Ligne de sol.

8 x 11 x 3 mm.

A fine roman amethyst intaglio set in a gold ring with diamonds. Seated Mercury with attributes.

1st - 2nd century A.D.

The god is seated naked on the rocks, facing right. With his left hand he holds the caduceus, and with his right he points towards the cock, his sacred animal, which is near him. Frontally, he places the foot on a small altar, on which a lamb rests. Below the groundline, a turtle. Magic-votive gem characterized by a rare composition. Attractive stone color. The gem is mounted in a silver setting with chrysoberyls, subsequently attached to a chiseled gold ring. The mounting can be dated to the 19th century.

Stone 10 x 14 mm; ring size 18 x 19 mm; 5,56 gr.

A roman chalcedony intaglio mounted on a 19th century gold ring set with garnets or spinels. Zeus.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

The intaglio depicts Jupiter standing and facing right holding in his left hand and eagle, and a scepter in his right hand. He wears a long cloak, and a band in his hair. In front of him, an altar. Groundline. The 19th century mounting with rounded hoop and a large oval box-setting set with a series of garnet or spinels (one missing) containing the intaglio.

Stone 11 x 14 mm; ring size 16 x 17 mm; 5,04 gr.

A roman green chalcedony intaglio mounted in a gold ring. Pastoral scene.

3rd century A.D.

Hoop angular, flat within. The shoulders are fluted and in the form of small leaves. The oval box-setting with conical section is set with an oval green chalcedony intaglio. The scene depicts an old man standing turning left toward a tree. He wears a long cloak and a hat. Groundline. Crack and restoration on the stone.
Parallels: Marshall, 1968, n°1405-1406, p.216


Stone 7 x 10 mm; ring size 16 x 17 mm; 2,60 gr.