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LOT 0107
Roman Gold Ring with Amethyst Gemstone with Mercury and Bacchus
1ST CENTURY B.C.-1ST CENTURY A.D.
1 in. (16.40 grams, 24.07 mm overall, 17.91 mm internal diameter (approximate size British M, USA 6, Europe 12.46, Japan 12)).
With stepped shoulders and ellipsoid bezel open to the underside, replaced hoop, inset amethyst intaglio depicting Mercury giving the infant Bacchus to the Nymphs; stone broken.
ProvenanceAcquired on the London art market in the 1990s.
Thence by descent.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12108-212230.
Cf. Chadour, A.B., Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, items 349, 350, for type.
CONDITIONTimeLine 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:
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LOT 0107
Roman Gold Ring with Amethyst Gemstone with Mercury and Bacchus
Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,340
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Roman Buffware Oil Lamp Group
1st-3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
Comprising four mould made lamps, one with ring handle with two shallow grooves on upper part, central filling-hole, small air hole in the lower part; one with volute lug handle, flat shoulder with a rounded outer ridge, flat-bottomed discus, central filling-hole, V-shaped channel between discus and nozzle, air hole above club; the other two with ring handles and grooves on upper and lower parts, shoulder with shallow pronounced relief, filling hole with air hole in front of the nozzle. 140 grams total, 67-82 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.
The lamps have connections with models of 1st-3rd centuries A.D., in particular with Bayley type A group i, Bussiere form D VII and D X 5. -
Roman Bronze Seated Wild Boar Statuette
Circa 1st century B.C.-1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
Hollow-formed figure of a boar resting with hindlegs folded and forelegs straight, thick ridge to the back, fur texture; open underside. 75 grams total, 65 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. -
Roman Bronze Statuette of Mercury
1st-2nd century A.D.Estimate: £5,000 - 7,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £2,750
Standing erect on a tiered socle base in contrapposto pose; pointillé-textured mantle draped to the left shoulder, left arm bent, hand holding a wand; right arm loose at the side, hand holding a patera; finely modelled face with short wavy hair; shallow dimple or socket to the crown; standing on a possibly later tiered disc base with square foot. 957 grams, 16 cm high
Acquired on the German art market, 1990s. Ex Cambridgeshire collection, UK. 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.12013-213587.
Mercury was the god of trade and industry, whose principle shrine in the city of Rome was at the Circus Maximus. The draped mantle is typical of statuary of Mercury from the 1st-2nd century A.D. (Boucher, pl.40, 43) and the 'baton' may in fact be the stem of a caduceus (Boucher, pl.46 (211)).
