A pair of carved porphyry vases modelled on the famous 2nd century A.D. Roman Warwick Vase with Bacchic ornament, beading and egg-and-dart ornament around the rim, foliate vines below with both handles formed from two entwined vines, the body displaying a frieze of male and female masks modelled naturalistically in high relief, leaves radiating upwards from the centre base; each created in two parts and accompanied by a marble plinth; probably re-used ancient stone. [2]

PROVENANCE:
English private collection.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11684-199805.

LITERATURE:
Cf. Historic England Archive, reference CC52/00545, for a photograph of the 'original' reconstruction of the vase taken whilst located at Warwick Castle.

FOOTNOTES:
The original vase was reputedly discovered at Hadrian's Villa, in Tivoli, Italy in 1771 A.D.; now in the Burrell Collection, Glasgow, Scotland. The vase is not entirely reconstructed from original elements but incorporates the restorer's interpretation of how missing elements of the vase likely appeared. The original vase was named after the 2nd Earl of Warwick who acquired it from his uncle, Sir William Hamilton, in c.1775.