Roman Glass Candlestick Unguentarium

With a rounded body decorated with a lozenge 'net' motif, broad flared neck, kick-up to base; extensive iridescence, repaired. 49 grams, 11 cm high



Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private collection since 1998. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

An attractive rectangular panel of mosaic tesserae with central ribbed kantharos executed in coral pink, amber-yellow, and green segments with tiered foot; issuing from the scaphoid opening two vines with curled tendrils and trefoil leaves in pale green; white field with grey-black border; restored and set into a mid 20th century reinforced mortar matrix. 56 kg, 67.5 x 67.5 cm



Acquired in the 1950s-early 1990s. From the Igor Karmiloff (1925-2016) collection, UN economist and author of Flashbacks, Icons of Impermanence, Bloomington, 2009. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12746-233888. 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 motif of the kantharos, krater or amphora with vines emerging from the mouth is widely represented in classical art and was seemingly a popular motif for the mosaicist with examples found in areas as widespread as North Africa and northern Britain. The origins of the motif are probably to be found in the cult of Bacchus (Greek Dionysos) with its ritualised drunkenness expressed in the vine which gives rise to the grapes to be transformed into wine, and the drinking cup from which it is received. In later Roman times, the motif was reinterpreted as Christ (the Eucharist symbolised by the cup) from whom the vine grows representing the spread of the Christian message and the growth of the church (Watts, 1991, p.208).

Quadrilateral with a keeled upper face, underside with reversed inscription reading 'SEVSVPLICI'; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 10.57 grams, 51 mm



Ex Simmons gallery, London, UK, 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.