ASTA 267 - GLITTICA

A LARGE GREEN AND YELLOW JASPER MAGICAL INTAGLIO. BES-PANTHEOS.

Possibly 2nd - 3rd A.D. and 20th century?

12x16x5 mm

The deity is depicted with the bearded head of Bes encrowned with a composite crown. Head surrounds by animals protome. With human body, he wears a double pair of wings and arms ending with was scepters. In his right hand he holds the flagellum and the heka, meanwhile in the left, he holds a scorpion. He wears jackal-heads sandals on top of an ouroboros with inside, turtle, crocodile, cobra and a quadrupede. the ityphallic gesture is typical to this divinity sy;bolizing his creative nature. On the backside; inside an ouroboros, a vase with the Kheper at the base and three large phallus emerging. Between, two stars. On each side, a scepter with snake and a column with a canopic jar. The vase is supported by a crocodile facing right. Beneath, three snakes and a lion facin left. In the field, "ΑΧΑΝΑ". Chips on the edge, wear marks.

For a similar gem Michel 2001 / Die Magischen Gemmen im Britischen Museum (161)
Bonner 1950 / Studies in magical amulets, chiefly Graeco-Egyptian
CBd / The Campbell Bonner Magical Gems Database Online (559)

Provenance: U.K. private collection acquired on the british art market.

A ROMAN GNOSTIC HEMATITE INTAGLIO. SEATED MALE CHARACTER.

2nd-3rd century A.D.

20x29x5 mm

Seated front, with bare chest, wearing a long draped skirt and holding in his right hand a bowl with an animalhead on top meanwhile his left hand holds a scepter. Under his feet, a snake. In the field, charakter. On top, two stars. On the backside; inscription (partially missing) "ΑΒΑΖΑ/ΑΛΕΑΠ/VΚΛΙΤΑ/ΑΒΑΗΛ/ΘΑΡV*" . The syncretic figure is characterized by male features, hirsute beard and hair with animal ears. His attributes probably refers to a syncretic divinity or a Decan (?). Wear marks. Rare iconography. Fragmentary (damaged).



Provenance: This lot is sold under temporary import status.

A FINE ROMAN MAGICAL CITRINE INTAGLIO. SEATED DOUBLE-HEADED BABOON WITH INSCRIPTION.

2nd-3rd century A.D.

11x12x7mm

Showing a seated baboon with also a ram's head. The heads encrowned with the uraeus cobra and the sun. The baboon facing right his holding in his right hand a heart-shaped vase with drops to the ground. Groundline. This intriguing iconography refers to the egyptian divinities Thot as a baboon and Khnoum as a ram, both gods considered in the Ermopolis cosmogony as cretaing gods. On the backside, inscription "ΧΟΜΑCΟΜ". Beautiful conservation and very bright color of the stone.

Provenance: Ex Sangiorgi collection, acquired in the late 19th-early 20th century. This lot is sold under temporary import status.

A ROMAN MAGICAL CARNELIAN INTAGLIO. PANTHEISTIC FIGURE WITH INSCRIPTION.

2nd century A.D.

10x14x3 mm

The god is standing front, his head facing right. He wears the atef crown, Amon's horns and an armour. In his right hand, he holds a spear, meanwhile in the left, a weapon (probably). In the field, "ΔΟΜΙ". Groundline. Wear marks. Chips and missing on the edge.

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

A ROMAN CARNELIAN INTAGLIO. CANOPUS VASE.

1st - 2nd century A.D.

13x15x4 mm

The god Osiris is presented in a canopic jar, wearing the atef crown and facing left. Groundline. Wear marks.

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

AN EARLY CHRISTIAN RED JASPER INTAGLIO. CROSS AND EAGLE.

3rd-4th century A.D.

12x17x3 mm

In the center the cross, on the left the letter "E", on the right an eagle. Traces of deposits on the surface of the stone. Intact. Wear marks.

Provenance: U.K. private collection

A ROMAN GARNET INTAGLIO. YOUNG SHEPHERD WITH HIS DOG AND GREEK INSCRIPTIONS.

3rd century A.D.

11x13x2 mm

The young draped character is standing front, his left holding a short stick, meanwhile his right arm stretched toward his dog. His head turned left is facing a greek inscription « Malxos zebei da »—Malxos leaves. Groundline. Wear marks.

Provenance: U.K. private collection

A LOT OF TWO ROMAN MAGICAL HARDSTONE INTAGLIOS.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

10 x 13 x 4 mm; 10 x 14 x 3 mm.

A green jasper intaglio, with a standing figure surrounded by a magical inscription; a larger carnelian intaglio with a conjoined double bust of Eros playing the lyra and the double aulos, with a greek inscription. Wear marks.

Provenance: U.K. private collection acquired in the british art market.

A ROMAN BLOODSTONE INTAGLIO. SNAKE.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

8 x 10 x 2 mm

The reptile is facingf left, the mouth wide open. Probably a magical gem. Wear marks.

Provenance: From the collection of an European gentleman, acquired on the art market

A RARE EARLY CHRISTIAN ROCK CRYSTAL INTAGLIO. 1ST MIRACLE OF THE CHRIST. THE MIRACULOUS DRAUGHT OF FISHES.

3rd-4th century A.D.

24x33x5 mm

The scene shows two male characters pulling a ship on the shore; on the ship, a fisherman holds the net full of fish and the other the rudder. On the left welcoming them; the haloed Christ. Large size of the stone with great brightness. Chips on the edge, wear marks. The scene is of great historical importance and rarity.

For a similar iconography see: SPIER, J., Late Antique and Early Christian Gems, pl.132, Cat.n X70

Provenance: U.K. private collection acquired on the british art market.

A RARE ROMAN ROCK CRYSTAL SHELL.

1st - 2nd century A.D.

30 x 27 x 11 mm

Decorative element in the shape of a shell characterized by radial ribs (of the type Acanthocardia tuberculata, bivalve). Through hole with deposits. Slightly concave inside. Wear marks. These shells in rock crystal are usually considered playing pieces (game counter), even if it is not fully proven, otherwise funerary ex voto later used as a pendant (through hole). Otherwise as toiletry elements to contain the make-up for the funerary equipment. Rare.

British Museum Database: Rock crystal cockle-shell, probably a game-counter. inv. 1923,0401.1181; inv. 1923,0401.1182 (samew size) ; Rock Crystal Pendant in the Shape of a Shell From a woman’s grave c.1st Century AD, Benaki Museum.

Provenance: From the collection of an European gentleman, acquired on the art market

A FINE ROMAN GOLD AND ROCK CRYSTAL PERFUME BOTTLE.

2nd-3rd century A.D.

H max 72 mm; 22,41 gr.

Oblong in shape, carved from a single block of rock crystal and perforated in the center, the attachment formed of a hammered gold plate, surmounted by a semi-spherical lid with a hoop. Three suspension hooks holding chains of gold links. Good state of conservation. Slight wear marks. Rare.

Provenance: U.K. private collection acquired on the art market.