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LOT 0119
Roman Carnelian Gemstone with Owl Between Cornucopiae
1ST CENTURY A.D.
1/2 in. (0.65 grams, 13 mm).
The oval intaglio engraved with the bird facing, flanked by two opposing cornucopiae.
ProvenanceAcquired in the late 1980s-early 1990s.
Important North West London collection.
Cf. Henig, M., A corpus of Roman Engraved Gemstones from British Sites, Oxford, 2007, for similar gemstones with caduceus (no.422) and calathus (App.54) flanked by cornucopiae.
FootnotesAccording to Greek mythology, the cornucopia was the horn lost by the Achelous river in the fight with Hercules for Deianeira and filled by the Naiads with flowers and fruit as a symbol of abundance, thus alluding to the fertility of the valley where the Achelous flowed. The owl, symbol of Athena, flanked by cornucopiae, evoked the abundance asked from the goddess by the wearer of the gemstone.
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 Bronze Fitting Group
Circa 2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
Comprising: a substantial key handle with baluster and 'X' ornament; knife pommel; clothing studs; fragmentary pins with decorative heads. 137 grams total, 18-92 mm
Ex Axel Guttman collection. Acquired on the UK art market. Ex private Merseyside, UK, collection. -
Roman Bronze Artefact Collection
1st-4th century A.D.Estimate: £200 - 300 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £111
Comprising a bowl with incised geometric decoration; knife with single-edged iron blade and decoratively incised pommel; and a pin with tapering round-section body, shallow conical finial and decoratively incised head. 106 grams total, 4.8-13.5 cm
Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK. -
Roman Carnelian Gemstone with Serapis and Eagle Between Two Military Standards
2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £910
The oval intaglio with bust of Serapis right, above an eagle with wings spread, two military signa to the sides. 0.87 grams, 17 mm
Acquired in the late 1980s-early 1990s. Important North West London collection.
Often the intaglio gemstones were carved with an eagle between two standards. The left standard is topped with a capricorn genius legionis, and the right one with the hand of a signum manipularis. The presence of a capricorn could imply that the gemstone was dedicated to men of the Legio XIIII Martia Victrix.
