Roman Carnelian Gemstone with Horse Belonging to Antiochos

Each with a hollow-formed crescentic hoop, piriform plaque with inset glass panel and granulated border, hollow-bulb cluster beneath with three applied piriform plaques and granule finial. 9.26 grams total, 37-38 mm



Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12393-226929.

On a stepped triangular base, bear with head raised, forepaws round the neck of a deer with legs folded beneath the body. 398 grams, 10 cm



Nicolas Koutoulakis (1910-1996). Private collection of Mr K.A. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12398-226600.

Combat between large animals was a popular theme in Roman art. The staging of such fights in the Flavian Amphitheatre in the heart of Rome is evidenced. Furthermore, the 3rd-4th century A.D. mosaic floor unearthed at Lod, Israel, in 1996 shows several scenes with ferocious wild animal - a lion and lioness, an elephant, a giraffe, a rhinoceros, a tiger, and a wild bull - all arranging themselves for a colossal fight to the death. The mosaic was lifted intact and is on display in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Comprising a discoid crescent-shaped pendant with openwork decoration. 1.1 grams, 19 mm



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