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LOT 0183
Roman Bloodstone Intaglio with Horus, Osiris and Ouroboros
2ND-3RD CENTURY A.D.
5/8 in. (1.31 grams, 17 mm).
Egyptizing intaglio representing the myth of Osiris, with the mummy of the god resting above the snake Ouroboros and surmounted by his son, the falcon god Horus, a star above.
ProvenanceGiorgio Sangiorgi (1886-1965), Rome, acquired and brought to Switzerland, late 1930s; thence by continuous descent to the current owner.
with Christie's Ancient Jewellery, New York, 6 December 2007, no.338.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12582-232140.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
See the Walters Art Museum, no.42.870, for a similar style Roman intaglio with Ouroboros.
FootnotesThe image of Ouroboros (a snake eating its own tail) is usually associated with stars and Egyptian mythology as represented in Roman gnostic intaglios. Ouroboros is continuously re-birthing itself and depicted as a circle, representing eternity and the cyclical nature of things that start once they end. It is also the symbol of duality and dualising power.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0183
Roman Bloodstone Intaglio with Horus, Osiris and Ouroboros
Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,160
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Dated Roman Inked Reused Wooden Wax Tablet by Julius Maianus
328 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £8,775
Well preserved rectangular, probably cedarwood tablet with a groove (sulcus) and inked text to one face, two small holes and remains of wax within the sulcus; five personal signatures of witnesses above the sulcus, the text of the document starts with the date: in the year after the consulate of Flavius Constantius and Valerius Maximus (= AD 328), the following text regards testaments kept by Julius Maianus who is called depositarius, in the following lines the textual style is very short and several times verbs seem to be missing, therefore, the document probably was some kind of report or protocol, we are lacking parallels of similar documents, which makes this tablet unique and important. 32 grams, 14.5 x 13 cm
Acquired by Albert Sfez in the early 1950s. Formerly the property of Monsieur Alain Sfez, a Belgium collector; acquired by gift from his father Albert Sfez, in 1965. Acquired by a London dealer in 1973. From an important London collection since 1975; thence by descent. Accompanied by a copy of a four page illustrated academic report by Professor Dr. phil. Peter Rothenhöfer. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12672-230807. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Roman Green Glass Bead Necklace String
1st-4th century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £46
Restrung group of cylindrical, biconical and other beads. 14.4 grams, 36.5 cm
Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Roman Gold Ring with Spes Gemstone
1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £780
Slender hoop and integral lobe bezel inset intaglio standing robed figure of Spes holding a wreath. 2.04 grams, 17.57 mm overall, 15.02 mm internal diameter (approximate size British F, USA 2 3/4, Europe 3.67, Japan 3)
Private Swiss collection. Acquired in 1998. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.