Roman Red Jasper Gemstone with Eagle

Cruciform in plan with trefoil finial to each arm, punched-point border and median line, applied bone disc to each lateral arm and a larger one in a recessed cell to the centre pin-lugs, pin and catch to reverse. 5.7 grams, 39 mm



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

Ellipsoid in plan with enigmatic Greek legend 'BPE/IMW' to underside, facing figure of Aphrodite Anadyomene to obverse on baseline with Greek legend 'APE IAP', possibly an abbreviation for ΑΡ[ΌΡΙΦ]ΡΑ[Σ]Ι[Σ]. 1.38 grams, 17 mm



Private collection, acquired on the German art market in 1993; thence by descent.

The gemstone belongs to a series of blue gemstones, usually of lapis lazuli or blue glass, showing the famous image of Aphrodite Anadyomene ('rising from the sea'). In some of these gemstones, we find the magical word arôriphrasis, which transliterates an Egyptian title of the goddess Hathor as 'The Lady of the Blue Stone'. Since Hathor and Aphrodite were assimilated in Graeco-Roman Egypt, there is some logic to the appearance of the name and Aphrodite on these stones.

Mixed group of polychrome beads, some with trails, some with eye motifs and some imitating banded agate. 48.28 grams total, 5.02-42.42 mm



From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s.