Roman Gold Amulet in the Shape of a Phallus

Ellipsoid carnelian cloison with intaglio satyr in profile with shepherd's crook (pedum) over his shoulder. 0.35 grams, 10 mm



Acquired on the German art market, 1989-1995. with The Museum Gallery, 19 Bury Place, London, WC1, UK, 1998-2003. Property of a London based academic, 2003 to present. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Carved in the round with stern facial features, short curly hair and beard with light moustache; the broad brow modelled with characterful creasing, the eyebrows slightly drooping and eyes deep-set, the nose angular and small pinched mouth; possibly an emperor or a tetrarch; possibly retouched in places. 26.5 kg, 27 cm high



Private collection, Europe. Acquired on the European art market, 2002. Private Swiss collection. 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 a search certificate number no.12574-232106. 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, for style and artistic structure, can be compared with the ones of Diocletian and his colleague Maximianus Herculius, and with most of the emperors of the so-called Tetrarchic Period. Like in the portrait of Diocletian and Maximianus, this military man is portrayed with bags under his eyes and with a harsh facial expression. The wrinkles on his forehead and around his mouth show the feelings of a man engaged in difficult times. Stylistically the face presents affinity with the portrait of Diocletian or Maximianus Herculius at the Uffizi (inv.242), some elements also recall the portrait of Decius at the Musei Capitolini (inv.482). We can therefore date the artwork in the period between the second half of the 3rd century and the first decade of the 4th century A.D.

Egyptizing intaglio representing the myth of Osiris, with the mummy of the god resting above the snake Ouroboros and surmounted by his son, the falcon god Horus, a star above. 1.31 grams, 17 mm



Giorgio Sangiorgi (1886-1965), Rome, acquired and brought to Switzerland, late 1930s; thence by continuous descent to the current owner. with Christie's Ancient Jewellery, New York, 6 December 2007, no.338. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12582-232140. 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 image of Ouroboros (a snake eating its own tail) is usually associated with stars and Egyptian mythology as represented in Roman gnostic intaglios. Ouroboros is continuously re-birthing itself and depicted as a circle, representing eternity and the cyclical nature of things that start once they end. It is also the symbol of duality and dualising power.