Roman Intaglio of Three Wrestling Erotes in Later Silver Ring

Discoid with ribbed border and central raised pellet, motif of a winged centaur holding a square shield and a staff(?), foliage motif to the background; pierced three times to the rim. 153 grams, 10.1 cm



From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.

This version of a centaur was known as ‘kitovras’, an old Russian version of the word ‘kentauros’. He is typically portrayed with the body of a horse and the torso and head of a man, often featuring prominent wings and wearing armour. Kitovras is best known from a legend, ‘The Tale of Solomon and Kitovras’, in which he is tricked into building the temple for King Solomon. While held in captivity, Kitovras tells Solomon how to obtain the stone needed to build the temple and stays with him through its completion. When Solomon doubts Kitovras’ strength, Kitovras throws him to the edge of the Promised Land, but the king eventually returns and takes back the throne.

Openwork fronds to the shoulders, rectangular plaque with raised border, incuse skull motif over two long bones crossed, script capital 'B'. 7.9 grams, 24.6 mm overall, 21.29 mm internal diameter (approximate size British U 1/2, USA 10 1/4, Europe 23.15, Japan 22)



Ex East Sussex private collection, 1970s-1980s.

The central baluster knopped column with scrolling ornament and looped carrying handle above a trefoil-shaped platform and rivetted tripod feet. 1.21 kg, 44 cm



Ex Nic McElhatton, former chairman of Christie's South Kensington. Property of a Berkshire, UK, collector. Accompanied by a copy of McElhatton's cataloguing page.