Loading, please wait...

Use mousewheel to zoom in and out, click to enlarge

Details

LOT 0153

Roman Glass Cameo Tondo with Baby Dionysos, Raised by Nymphs on Mount Nysa, in Gold Pendant Setting

LATE 1ST CENTURY B.C.-1ST CENTURY A.D. AND LATER

1 7/8 in. (21.36 grams, 48 mm).

Blue glass disc with white glass past overlay imitating onyx, showing the nurturing of baby Dionysos, raised by nymphs on Mount Nysa: the infant god standing on the lap of a nymph, another standing right, Silenus standing left and leaning in on the scene, a tree in the background; set into a later gold setting with applied wire scrolls and tendrils on the sides with an applied filigree band below, wide loop above fronted by an applied decorative plaque set with a garnet cabochon.

Provenance

Private collection of a London gentleman, acquired between 1965-2020.

Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Ittai Gradel.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12680-235465.
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.

Literature

See Henig, M., Molesworth, H., The Complete Content Cameos, 2018, 157, no.152; see also The British Museum, London, museum no.1923,0401.1022, for a similar example.

Footnotes

Dr Ittai Gradel writes: 'Cameos with Dionysiac motifs were especially popular in the mid- to later first century BC, and the prolific workshop of the gem carver Sostratos specialized in such motifs (see I. Gradel, ‘A tale of two fragments: a Sostratos cameo reconstructed’, The Burlington Magazine 162 (March 2020), 181-87). The original, lost stone cameo, from which this glass version was cast, belongs in this period and ambience. The glass cast was presumably contemporary with the original cameo, possibly slightly later, but the glass is in any case clearly ancient (corrosion, iridescence).'

CONDITION

VETTING:

TimeLine 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:

TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.

LOT 0153

Roman Glass Cameo Tondo with Baby Dionysos, Raised by Nymphs on Mount Nysa, in Gold Pendant Setting

Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,600

Print page

RELATED LOTS

  • Large Roman Amber Glass Pilgrims Flask
    Large Roman Amber Glass Pilgrim's Flask
    2nd-3rd century A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £910

    Comprising a flat discoid body and trumpet-shaped neck with rolled rim. 108 grams, 15.2 cm high



    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.

    Lot Details

  • Roman Mosaic Stone Tesserae Group
    Roman Mosaic Stone Tesserae Group
    1st-4th century A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £624

    A mixed group of two hundred and fifty single tesserae of various colours and sizes, mostly cuboid. 357 grams total, 8-13 mm



    From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

    Roman mosaics were made from small cubes of natural stone and terracotta possibly cut from tile or brick. Each of these small cubes was called a tessera (several tesserae) from the Latin word for dice.

    Lot Details

  • Roman Bronze Military Pendant
    Roman Bronze Military Pendant
    2nd-3rd century A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £46

    Comprising an ivy-leaf panel with comma-scrolls above. knop finial, fox-mask to the loop. 4.66 grams, 46 mm



    Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

    Lot Details

Stay up-to-date with the latest from TimeLine Auctions by joining our mailing list