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LOT 0121
Roman Jasper Gemstone with Mercury
2ND-3RD CENTURY A.D.
1/2 in. (0.79 grams, 15 mm).
The god depicted naked, standing, looking left, holding a caduceus and a purse.
ProvenanceAcquired in the late 1980s-early 1990s.
Important North West London collection.
Cf. British Museum inventory no. 1917,0501.566, in Walters, H.B., Catalogue of Engraved Gems & Cameos, Greek, Etruscan & Roman in the British Museum, London, 1926, no.1385, for similar.
FootnotesAfter his identification with the Greek Hermes, the Roman artists who realised his images for the Roman magistrates used the specific Greek elements of his personality (the winged low cap petasos, the face of a shaved young man, the caduceus, the winged shoes of Phekasia type) but added the attribute of a purse, specific to Mercury.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0121
Roman Jasper Gemstone with Mercury
Estimate £700 - 900€810 - 1,040 (for guidance only)$950 - 1,220 (for guidance only)
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Roman Geometric Floor Mosaic
Circa 1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £8,450
Fragment or portion of floor mosaic, showing a composition of alternated patterns of different coloured squares in chequerboard pattern, combined in diagonal rows of light yellow, light blue, off-white, pink, red, light violet, again off-white, light grey, light grey, dark grey, off-white, light yellow (repeated two times) light blue and off-white shadows; on the lower part a red line is edging the composition over an off-white band. 82.5 kg, 156 cm wide including frame
Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11822-207409.
The square-decorated mosaics had a strong presence in the Hispanic provinces, with some 1st century A.D. examples in the houses of Ampurias, up to the late imperial examples of the Villa of Palencia (archaeological site of La Tejada) where the main rooms show wall paintings with geometric, vegetal or decorations imitating marbles, and mosaics with simple geometric decorations alternating with elegant decorative motifs such as swastikas, chequered motifs or ropes, and Solomonic symbols. The chequerboard motif was widespread, and it is visible also in the 3rd-4rd century mosaic of the Roman Villa of Brading or in the house found under the Museum of Lincoln, in Britain. -
Roman to Byzantine Bronze Ring Collection
3rd-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
Comprising complete and fragmentary examples, most with decorative bezels, including: glass intaglio; olive branch; zoomorphs and geometric designs, together with other enigmatic motifs. 42 grams total, 15-23 mm
Acquired Stacey's Auctions, Rayleigh, Essex, UK. Property of a Essex gentleman. -
Roman Bronze Ram Statuette
1st-4th century A.D.Estimate: £180 - 240 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £100
Modelled standing in the round with naturalistic detailing, with head turned right with curled horns. 42 grams, 39 mm
‘The Ancient Menagerie Collection’ formerly the property of a Cambridgeshire lady, collected since the 1990s and acquired from auctions and dealers throughout Europe and the USA, now ex London collection.
