Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History & Coins

Finely engraved Roman carnelian intaglio showing nude winged Amor in front of a pillar with his weapons, helmet, shield, and spear, putting on a shin guard, standing before an altar, set in a later gold ring; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 3.55 grams, 21.09 mm overall, 18.46 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q, USA 8, Europe 17.49, Japan 16)



Acquired on the European art market. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13323-258009.

This particular iconography shows the god of love arming himself, standing in front of an altar surmounted by a helmet, and with a hoplon shield at its bottom. He is putting a greave on his right leg, and a spear occupies the central part of the scene. Figuratively, Amor is maybe represented arming himself for a 'love deed'. But the scene can be referred to the battle against the Titans, to which all the Olympian gods took part.

Cabochon with incuse enthroned Muse with a mask and one hand extended; set into an antique gold ring; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 3.44 grams, 25.11 mm overall, 17.50 mm internal diameter (approximate size British N, USA 6 1/2, Europe 13.72, Japan 13)



Private collection, Europe. Acquired on the English art market.

The oval intaglio engraved with a whimsical image of a stork emerging from the mouth of a large seashell, its neck arched forward to seize a small mouse by the tail; set in a finely made 19th-century ring with openwork shoulders; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 4.25 grams, 24.31 mm overall, 19.30 mm internal diameter (approximate size British T, USA 9 1/2, Europe 21.26, Japan 20)



Acquired on the European art market. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13365-257944.

The stork, a bird symbolic in antiquity of vigilance, filial piety, and longevity, here appears in an imaginative fusion with a marine shell—an element often associated with Venus and the sea. The capture of the mouse adds an element of humour and narrative intrigue, perhaps evoking themes of cunning, the triumph of wit, or the unexpected in nature. Such unusual compositions are occasionally found in Roman glyptics of the late Republican period, appealing both for their novelty and symbolic richness.

With broad openwork shoulders and applied filigree scrolls, granulations flanking the cell with an inset facetted octagonal carnelian intaglio with an advancing centaur with a syrinx; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 4.51 grams, 26.50 mm overall, 23.05 x 12.76 mm internal diameter (approximate size British J, USA 4 3/4, Europe 8.69, Japan 8)



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

Comprising a dark blue layered chalcedony, engraved with the figure of a horse standing beneath a stylised tree, within which perch two birds, mounted in a later gold ring of broad, flat-shouldered form, engraved with floral and scrollwork motifs; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 5.33 grams, 20.30 mm overall, 17.24 x 16.55 mm internal diameter (approximate size British M, USA 6, Europe 12.46, Japan 12)



Acquired on the European art market. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13366-257910.

Nicolo’s two-tone effect, with its pale upper layer and darker ground, enhances the depth and clarity of the intaglio engraving.

Intaglio of syncretistic Fortuna, winged like Victory and helmeted like Minerva in a long robe holding a rudder with an ear of corn and poppy; set into an antique gold ring; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 3.22 grams, 23.31 mm overall, 19.46 x 19.15 mm internal diameter (approximate size British R, USA 8 1/2, Europe 18 3/4, Japan 18)



Private collection, Europe. Acquired on the English art market.

Integral scaphoid bezel with female bust modelled in the round. 4.23 grams, 24.14 mm overall, 17.40 mm internal diameter (approximate size British G, USA 3 1/4, Europe 4.92, Japan 4)



Private collection, UK. Acquired on the English art market.

Ellipsoid onyx gemstone with an incuse skeleton motif, set in a gold-sheet cell with granule cluster below and ribbed loop above, reverse with border of pellets enclosing three rosettes. 2.7 grams, 26 mm



From a North American gentleman's collection, 1990s.

Penannular in plan and rectangular in form with applied bands of filigree ropework to the outer edges, granule to each corner. 24.8 grams, 62 mm



From the old family collection of a West Country, UK, lady; acquired by descent from her grandfather circa 2001.

Comprising a tapering pin with the finial formed as the draped bust of Sol wearing a radiate crown. 9.39 grams, 10.9 cm



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

Obverse with pearl-diademed bust with legend 'DN VALENTINIANVS PF AVG', the reverse with 'RESTITVTOR REIPVBLICAE', Valentinian standing facing, holding a labarum and Victory on globe; set in a later 18 carat gold mount with diamond, set in a silver swivel mount with ropework decoration. 12.05 grams, 38 mm



Acquired 1960s-1990s. From the private collection of the late Alison Barker (1951-2021).

An oval intaglio showing a hand with summum bonum: cornucopia and poppy ear, set in a later ring with granulation; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 3.37 grams, 23.00 mm overall, 16.66 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L 1/2, USA 6, Europe 11.87, Japan 11)



Acquired on the European art market.