Roman Chrome Chalcedony Gemstone of a Philosopher

Bulbous body with long funicular neck and everted rim, applied strap handles to the top, applied spiral decoration to the body. 14.6 grams, 76 mm



Ex London gallery, UK, 1986. Ex private UK collection. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Small cosmetic flasks with tubular bodies, conical feet and trailed decoration were a common product of the Syro-Palestinian workshops in the Eastern Roman Empire, during the 4th-5th century A.D. Many such vessels had elaborate basket-handles, from which they could be suspended.

Tongue-shaped in plan with knop finial and three pierced lugs to the reverse; raised rim enclosing a scene with advancing gladiator and a lion(?) preparing to attack. 19.1 grams, 49 mm



Ex London and Home Counties gentleman, R.W., 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

All E38 buckles probably originally had a kidney-shaped bow (T-shaped), a prong with a rectangular, undecorated shield, and a U-shaped hinge fitting with a finial depicting a man fighting a lion. This could be a rider stabbing the prone animal with his lance, or a gladiator with a raised shield killing a lion with a sword or lance. The reliefs are surrounded by a border of varying design. Depending on the width of the fitting, the number of rear pierced pegs varies between from two to three.

Carved in the round bust of a cynical, mature philosopher with short tousled hair and thick beard, exaggerated protruding eyes and gaunt facial features, the mouth modelled slightly open as if the subject is in pain; mounted on a custom-made stand. 47.6 kg total, 60 cm including stand



Private collection, Paris, 1980s. European private collection. Accompanied by a copy of French passport no.237041. Accompanied by an academic report by Professor Neritan Ceka. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12610-234690. 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.

The portrait head was initially meant to be assembled on a statue. Chisel marks at the neck level indicate a relatively late separation of the head from the body, which must have been twice its natural size. The working of the back of the head suggests that the sculpture was exposed only to the front. The search for realistic traits brings this head close to the Hellenistic portraits of the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, representing socially disadvantaged people of different ages and situations, such as fishermen and peasants, in the so-called genre sculptures. This presentation would be in contrast to the supernatural proportions of the portrait, which should have represented an elderly, publicly known person, poet, or philosopher, exhibited in his city of origin. In this respect, it would be more suited to the representation of a Cynical philosopher, in the model of Diogenes of Villa Albani. The almond-shaped eyes without drilled pupils, engraved eyes, and the absence of a deep drilling technique on hair date the portrait between the 1st century BC and the 1st century AD.