ASTA 267 - GLITTICA

A FINE ROMAN AMETHYST INTAGLIO. GORGONA MASK.

1st - 2nd century A.D.

14x17,5x6,5 mm

Beautiful frontal mask of Medusa with wavy hair, wings on top of the head, serpents tied under her chin. The face is rounded, with furrowed eyebrows, the eyes opened but absorbed in a sweet melancholy as is the mouth; the chin small and globular. Extraordinary color and very refined execution inspired by Greek models. Behind the gem is convex slightly pointed. Wear marks.

Provenance: U.K collection acquired on the art market

A ROMAN ONYX CAMEO. GORGONA.

3rd century A.D.

16x17x8 mm

Winged head of Gorgona, with snakes. The face is turned slightly by three-quarters. Small missing on the nose and on the edge. Wear marks and traces of deposits.

M. Henig, The Content Cameos, pp. 88-92; Henig, Molesworth, The Complete Content Cameos, pp. 183 - 192 ("Gorgoneia").

Provenance: From the Hekmat & madeleine Nassif Collection, formed between 1933 and 1987 ; U.K. private collection

A ROMAN GNOSTIC HEMATITE INTAGLIO. ANT AND HELIOS-HORUS-MIÔS SEATED ON A LION.

2nd-3rd century A.D.

11x14x3,5 mm

On one side an ant; on the reverse, a character seated on a lion facing left. Probably the god Helios-Horus-Miôs frequently represented on gnostic gems riding a lion. Groundline. In the field, charakteres. Wear marks.

For a similar iconography see: MASTROCINQUE, les Intailles Magiques du département des Monnaies, Médailles et Antiques, 2014, n°49-54.

Provenance: U.K. private collection

A ROMAN MAGICAL DARK GREEN JASPER INTAGLIO. EROS TIED TO A COLUMN WITH INSCRIPTION.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

12,5x16x3 mm

Eros is facing left, tied to a column with the inscription "ΔΙΚΑΙΟΣ", meaning "just deserved". A griffin with the wheel (the Nemesis) over the column. Magical stone referred to the allegory of Love and the Revenge. Missing on the edge. Wear marks.

Provenance: From a private collection, France, acquired on the art market 1990s-early 2000s.

A ROMAN NICOLO INTAGLIO. BUST OF SERAPIS WITH A GREEK INSCRIPTION. 

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

13x16x4 mm

The god is facing left wearing the chiton and himation, with his typical foliated beard and hair surmounted by the modius. Beneath, globe and a pillar on a base. The inscription « ELL-AΔΙ » relative to Greece . Slight ancient natural cracks on the surface of the stone and traces of deposit.

For a similar iconography see: Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, n. 5889; Guilhou Collection, DE RICCI (p.34, n°218, pl. IV).

Provenance: U.K. private collection

A ROMAN GNOSTIC RED JASPER INTAGLIO. SEATED HARPOCRATES ON A LOTUS WITH INSCRIPTIONS.

2nd-3rd century A.D.

12x16x2 mm

Seated right on a lotus with 2 buds on a groundline. The head surmounted by the solar disc, hand raised to the mouth and flagellum. Around " Χω/ΒωΧ ". Around, inscription "ΧΑΒΡΑΧ/ΦΝΕCΧΗΡ/ΦΙΧΡΟΦΝΥ/ΡωΦω". The inscription is a variation of the χαβραχ-logos. A praxis known from a papyrus (PGM LXI 1-38) specifies that love charms had to be incised with the image of Horus on a lotus flower and the magical name Abraxas. Pieces with the Horus-scheme used as love charms. On the backside, inscription " ΙΑΗΙΕΗ/ΙΟΥωΗΙΗ". This a plinths of vowels which were to multiply the strength of the magic words.

See: A.Mastrocinque, Les intailles magiques du Departe;emt des Monnaies Medailles et Antiques, Paris, n11 and 30.

Provenance: Giorgio Sangiorgi (1886-1965), Rome, acquired and brought to Switzerland, late 1930s; thence by continuous descent to the current owner. This lot is sold under temporary import status.

A ROMAN MAGICAL BLOODSTONE INTAGLIO. HARPOKRATES AND HELIOS.

2nd - 3rd century A.D

12x15x3 mm

On one side, the god is seated on a stylized lotus flower and facing right, encrowned and holding a whip in his right hand. Groundline. On the reverse, portrait of Helios facing left.

Provenance: The Gustave Mustaki collection, exported from Egypt under licence c.1950 and gifted to Elsa MacLellan, his daughter, thence by descent.

A ROMAN MAGICAL BLOODSTONE INTAGLIO. HARPOKRATES AND ANUBIS.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

14x18x3 mm

The child god is seated inside a sun hold by a kneeled Anubis, arms upraised. In the field, lotus flowers. Groundline.

Provenance: The Gustave Mustaki collection, exported from Egypt under licence c.1950 and gifted to Elsa MacLellan, his daughter, thence by descent.

A ROMAN GNOSTIC GREEN AND BROWN JASPER INTAGLIO. PHOENIX.

2nd-3rd century A.D.

16x19x3,5 mm

Standing right with radiated crown. Groundline. In the field, a star and "ΜΛLΗΟ". Probably a figuration of the egyptian divinity Benu, linked with the Sun, creation, and rebirth. He may have been the original inspiration for the phoenix legends that developed in Greek mythology.

Provenance: Formerly in the private collection of J.A. Mariaud de Serres. This lot is sold under temporary import status.

A ROMAN GNOSTIC YELLOW JASPER INTAGLIO. LIZARD WITH CRESCENT MOON AND LETTERS. INSCRIPTION.

2nd-3rd century A.D.

13x19x2,5 mm

On one side, lizard with crescent moon on top, around « EKBALE », in the sense « to remove(the speck from your eye) » . On the other side « ΟΥΡΙΗΛ-ΟΥΡΙΗΛ » meaning « Uriel, Uriel ». The name of this Archangel is used on magical to invoke his recovery powers. The representation of a lizard on gnostic gems was used as protection or remedy for eyes diseases. Wear marks.

Provenance: U.K. private collection

A ROMAN GNOSTIC ORANGE JASPER INTAGLIO. CHNOUBIS WITH GREEK INSCRIPTION.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

16x23x7 mm

On one side, Chnoubis, the lion-headed snake with solar crown facing a mummified Anubis. Around greek inscription to protect the stomach. On the otherside, inside an ouroboros a lion surmounted by a winged scarab and Abraxas. Signs of wears on the surface of the stone. 

Provenance: U.K. private collection

A ROMAN YELLOW JASPER INTAGLIO. LION WITH ASTROLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES.

2nd century A.D.

10 x 12 x 2 mm

Facing left. On top, crescent moon. Beneath, star. Groundline.

Provenance: U.K collection acquired on the art market