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LOT 0333
Late Renaissance Double-Sided Heliotrope Cameo of Christ and the Virgin in Gold Ring
ITALY, 17TH CENTURY A.D.
1 in. (15.59 grams, 25.53 mm overall, 16.26 mm internal diameter (approximate size British K, USA 5 1/4, Europe 9.95, Japan 9)).
Comprising a dark green oval cameo with bright red flecks, on the upper side, a veiled head of Mary with a solemn expression, the underside featuring a classical depiction of bearded Jesus with long hair and wearing a draped garment; set in a substantial gold ring with a wide hoop.
ProvenanceAcquired 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.13390-257998.
Cf. the cameo follows a known model which is seen in a number of double-sided cameos found in the Museo degli Argenti, Palazzo Pitti, published in R. Gennaioli, Le gemme dei Medici al Museo degli Argenti: Cammei e Intagli nelle collezioni di Palazzo Pitti, Florence, 2007, pp. 337-338, nos. 437-439; a lapis lazuli cameo of the Virgin in the catalogue of The Marlborough Gems, by John Boardman, fig. 383; for further examples, see The British Museum, London, museum no.1867,0507.732, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, accession numbers 1982.60.393 and 39.22.6, and the Hermitage Museum, inventory number: К-649.
FootnotesIt was believed that the scarlet flecks in the stone were the blood of Christ, hence its popular use for the subject of Christ throughout the Middle Ages until the 19th century.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0333
Late Renaissance Double-Sided Heliotrope Cameo of Christ and the Virgin in Gold Ring
Estimate £3,500 - 4,500€4,060 - 5,220 (for guidance only)$4,730 - 6,080 (for guidance only)
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Gold Pendant with Glass Head
19th century A.D.Estimate: £500 - 700 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £250
In low-relief, facing bust with braided band to his brow and bunch of grapes to each temple. 11.5 grams, 44 mm
Private collection, Europe. Acquired on the English art market. -
Marble Fountain Sculpture of a Putto Wrestling a Fish
Baroque, 17th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £598
Standing on an angular base resting his left knee on the open jaws of a fish, his left arm holding the jaws open, the body and tail held upright be the raised right hand (partly absent); with heavy sulphured patina. 20.75 kg, 48 cm
Acquired prior to 1970. From the estate of a Swiss gentleman, Ticino. Private collection, Zurich, Switzerland. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12790-240308.
In ancient Roman art and architecture, fountains were often decorated with sculptures of young boys or putti holding fish. These sculptures were known as 'putti with fish' or 'boy with fish' and were a popular motif in the decoration of fountains. The young boy or putto was shown holding a fish or a shell, which would spout water into the fountain basin below. The fish was a particularly popular motif because it symbolised abundance, fertility, and prosperity, which were all important values in ancient Roman society. Overall, the putti with fish sculptures are a notable example of the art and architecture of ancient Rome and have continued to be an enduring symbol of beauty, abundance, and prosperity throughout the centuries. Archaeological excavations in Pompeii have revealed many examples of sculptures of putti with fish. The putti with fish sculptures from Pompeii were usually made of bronze, marble, or terracotta. They were often placed in the centre of the fountain, surrounded by other decorative elements such as flowers, plants, and other sculptures. Many of these putti with fish sculptures are now on display in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. The museum also houses a famous mosaic of a putto with a fish, which was discovered in the House of the Faun in Pompeii. The putti with fish sculptures from Pompeii and those in the Naples Museum provide valuable insights into the art and culture of ancient Rome. They demonstrate the importance of beauty and abundance in ancient Roman society and offer a glimpse into the everyday life of the people who lived in Pompeii over two thousand years ago. In the 17th and 18th centuries these sculptures were imitated and used to decorate the fountains of royal palaces and palaces. -
Georgian Gold Ring with Silver Skull
19th-20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £585
Beaded wire hoop with applied silver skull motif; usage wear to inner face. 2.93 grams, 25.00 mm overall, 16.81 mm internal diameter (approximate size British M, USA 6, Europe 12.46, Japan 12)
Private collection, Europe. Acquired on the English art market.
