Roman Carnelian Gemstone with Pan Combat Scene

An extremely rare aulos or tibia with round-section body, six circular holes to one side and a D-shaped hole to the reverse. 87 grams, 23 cm

Fine condition. Extremely rare.

From the late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister; from her collection formed early 1960s-1990s. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11055-184396.

The flute was used for religious ceremonies and for entertainment. The pyrrhic, a war dance of Doric origin, was a rapid dance to the double flute, and made to resemble an action in battle.

The upper body, neck and head of a mythical basilisk (cockatrice), modelled in the round with the body of a serpent and head of a cockerel, the body with a tapering round-section profile, stylised detailing to the head. 260 grams, 88 mm



‘The Ancient Menagerie Collection’ formerly the property of a Cambridgeshire lady, collected since the 1990s and acquired from auctions and dealers throughout Europe and the USA, now ex London collection.

The basilisk, known from the Renaissance onwards as a cockatrice, was a Graeco-Roman mythical two-legged dragon or serpent-like creature with a cock's head. It had the reputed ability to kill people by either looking at them, touching them, or sometimes breathing on them. According to legend a cockatrice would die instantly upon hearing a rooster crow, and having a cockatrice looking at itself in a mirror was one of the few sure ways to kill it.

The trio formed with semi-naturalistic detailing to the nail beds; hollow-formed; including larger-than-life examples. 210 grams total, 45-73 mm



Acquired on the EU art market around 2000. From the collection of a North American gentleman.