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LOT 0127
Marble Statue of a Goddess
ROMAN, 3RD CENTURY A.D. OR LATER
41 in. (146 kg, 104 cm).
Possibly depicting Laetitia, the goddess of joy, standing in a contrapposto pose with left arm resting on an anchor, right arm aloft; wearing a chiton and himation, feet emerging from underneath the hem; lower part of a chignon visible on the back; repaired.
ProvenanceFrom a private French collection.
Acquired in France before 1993.
From the personal collection of Gordon Gridley.
Gordon Gridley was a founding member of the Camden Passage antique dealers’ association. Trading in antiques from the late 1960s, he opened his first shop in 1971 and remained a well-known and respected figure in the antiques world until his retirement.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12087-214012.
Cf. Burnett, A., ‘The coinage of Allectus: Chronology and Interpretation’ in British Numismatic Journal (54), 1984, pp.21-40, pp.32ff. for legend and figures of the goddess on Roman coins; for Laetitia holding an anchor, see coin types for: Gordian III RIC 300b, Cohen 123; Valerian I RIC 216, Cohen 101, Sear 9944; Tacitus RIC V-1 144; Allectus RIC 22, Sear 13811; Carausius RIC V-2; Gallienus RIC 79, Cohen 420, Goebl 46p, Sear 10124; Victorinus Calico 3825, cf Elmer 706 a; Florian Rome 34 var; Estiot 2475-2487, ric.mom.fr, 4220; Carinus RIC V-2, 261, Sear 12349; Quintillus Sear 11444.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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Roman Silver Ring with 'of him who is virtuous, beautiful' Garnet Gemstone
Late 2nd-early 3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £780
Comprising a D-section hoop with angled shoulders; applied gold sheet with hatched border to the bezel, set with a dark set carnelian intaglio engraved with a monogram 'ΚΑΛΟΥ' (of him who is virtuous, beautiful). 6.42 grams, 22.80 mm overall, 16.58 mm internal diameter (approximate size British E, USA 2 1/4, Europe 2.41, Japan 2)
Property of a North American gallery since the 1990s.
This category of silver rings, with rounded shoulders is characteristic of the 3rd century A.D. This is also supported by the dating of the Sliven treasury, a grave find with coins dated to the 2nd-3rd century A.D., where a high conically cut gem decorated with the image of Helios was found on a similar ring, with a high bezel (like here) decorated in its oblique part with oblique hatches resembling pearl-like cord. -
Roman Silver and Bronze Artefact and Coin Group
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £39
Mixed group including a vine-leaf plate brooch, repaired P-shaped bow brooch, and silver coin of Constantine and another. 39.1 grams total, 17-69 mm
From a Suffolk collection. Property of a Scottish collector, acquired in 2013. -
Roman Gold Rings for a Married Couple with Nicolo Bust Gemstones
2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,160
Comprising two matching solid hoops with expanding shoulders, each set with a dark blue nicolo intaglio, one bearing a profile bust of a young Hercules, and the other with a profile bust of a woman wearing a taenia or a wreath on her head. 12.83 grams total, 20.25 mm overall, 15.50 mm internal diameter (approximate size British G, USA 3 1/4, Europe 4.92, Japan 4) 20.86 mm overall, 16.35 mm internal diameter (approximate size British H, USA 3 3/4, Europe 6.18, Japan 6)
From the private collection of the late A.B., London, UK; acquired before 1989. Accompanied from an archaeological report of Dr. Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12006-213034.
The iconography here is simple, possibly referring to a married couple, or to important public persons. The 5th century Roman writer Macrobius wrote that the engagement ring was worn on the fourth finger. Legend has it that the vena amoris, literally the ‘vein of love’, ran from the heart to the fourth finger of the left hand. Gemstones and fancy embellishments have been found in Roman rings of every age, although usually for engagement or wedding rings the iconography of clasped hands, symbolising the ‘fides’ among the spouses, was used. Intaglio portraits were engraved into a large variety of stones but nicolo, carnelian and red jasper were generally the most popular for imperial portraits or for the members of the imperial family.
