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LOT 0781
Roman Marble Relief Fragment with Phaethon
2ND-3RD CENTURY A.D.
6 3/4 in. (1.05 kg, 17.2 cm).
Portion of a carved frieze with reserved border to the upper edge; panel with high-relief carving of youthful Phaethon in profile with mantle and himation, mop of curly hair, right arm extended holding reins extending to the mane of the horse at the right edge; drilled to accept mounting pegs.
ProvenancePrivate UK collection.
Acquired in the 1980s.
Property of a Cambridgeshire gentleman.
In the story, which appears in several versions, Phaethon was the son of Helios the sun-god who asked to validate his parentage by driving his father's chariot. Helios tried to dissuade him, but the youngster would not listen and eventually managed to take control, but was unable to master the horses and the celestial vehicle veered out of control - too close to the ground where it started fires and then too distant so that the ground froze. Eventually, Zeus took remedial action and hurled a thunderbolt, which killed the boy. His dead body fell into the river Eridanus, and his sisters, the Heliades, were turned to black poplar trees while they mourned him.
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AUCTIONS:
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Large Roman Bronze Staff Finial with Bust of Serapis
Circa 2nd century A.D.Estimate: £50,000 - 70,000 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £22,222
With luxuriant long wavy hair and characteristic vertical locks at the forehead, full beard with two large ringlets below the chin, wearing a chiton and a himation draped over the left shoulder, the head surmounted by a corn modius decorated with olive branch in relief, the bust supported on the back of an eagle standing atop an orb with spread wings, the eagle with its head slightly turned to the left, the feathers finely detailed; a finial from a staff or a ceremonial standard; repaired. 1.4 kg, 29.5 cm high
Repaired.
Ex private collection, South Germany, 1980. with Gorny and Mosch, Munich, 13 December 2003, no.74. with Christie's, New York, 8 June 2012, no.239 (US $120,000-180,000). 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.11789-206489.
The Emperor Septimius Severus (193-211 A.D.) modelled many of his portraits based on Serapis. But it was under Hadrian that the refurbishment of the statue in the Serapeum increased the demand for small-scale images, like this one, probably made during his reign and used atop of a processional sceptre or standard for the cult of the god. -
Roman Mosaic Glass Fragment Collection
1st century B.C.-1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £169
Comprising fragments from various different types of vessels, mostly polychrome mosaic glass, and examples with trails. 137 grams total, 7-60 mm
From the collection of Mr N.A., Brussels, 1970s. -
Roman Mosaic Stone Tesserae Group
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
A mixed group of two hundred and fifty single tesserae of various colours and sizes, mainly cuboid 344 grams total, 8-14 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.
