Loading, please wait...
Details
LOT 0076
Roman Leda and the Swan Carnelian Gemstone
2ND-3RD CENTURY A.D.
7/8 in. (4.37 grams, 23.66 mm).
An oval intaglio with an engraved image of Leda on a low couch copulating with Zeus in swan-form, set in a fragmentary silver ring.
Provenance
Ex German art market, 2000s.
Acquired from an EU collector living in London.
From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.
VETTING:
TimeLine 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:
TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.
RELATED LOTS
-
.jpg)
Roman Bronze Ring with Bust
3rd-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Square bezel with beaded border, profile bust with vexillum. 2.12 grams, 22.18 mm overall, 20.22 mm internal diameter (approximate size British T, USA 9 1/2, Europe 21.26, Japan 20)
Acquired on the London art market in the late 1980s-1990s. From the family collection of an East London, UK, gentleman. -
Roman Marble Gryphon Trapezophoros Section
Circa 1st-2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £845
Carved in the round, S-curved in profile with scale detailing and grimacing gryphon's face; ledge to rear of head to support a tabletop. 19.56 kg, 35 cm
Acquired from Robert Evans, who in turn acquired from Sir Arthur Evans of the Ashmolean Museum. From the private collection of a Somerset gentleman. -
Roman Bronze Winged Eros
1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £13,000
Modelled in the round in kneeling pose, nude, with the fingers of his left hand spread across his bent knee, head turned to the right and slightly tilted upwards; two large dorsal wings spread; the face fleshy with small eyes and nose, the hair with a wreath of curls framing the face; attachment panel behind the shoulders; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 1.38 kg total, 19 cm wide
Ex F. Philips, Netherlands, before 1980s. with Jan Roelofs Antiquaries, Netherlands. Acquired on the European art market, 2023. Private collection, London. Accompanied by an academic report by Prof. Neritan Ceka. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12930-245218.
The image of the winged Eros held a special significance in Roman culture, embodying not only the god of love but also the elegance, refinement, and sophistication of the Classical tradition. His wings symbolised the fleeting nature of passion, while his youthful form carried connotations of vitality and beauty. To incorporate Eros into the decoration of luxury objects was to invoke divine favour and to align oneself with the cultivated ideals of the Graeco-Roman world. Bronzes of the 1st century A.D. represent the height of Roman metalworking, when elite households and sanctuaries commissioned works of remarkable artistry. Fittings such as this, finely cast and intended for a prestigious vessel, were both functional and symbolic: practical elements elevated to expressions of status and taste. Surviving examples are a testament to the technical mastery of Roman workshops and the desire of their patrons to surround themselves with imagery of the gods in even the smallest details of daily life.
