Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 4th century CE. A fine gathering of 23 hand-carved intaglios made from fragments of either carnelian, jasper, amethyst, citrine, or banded agate. The banded agate piece shows Venus with a draped shawl, the amethyst intaglio shows a standing figure holding a weapon, and the green jasper piece shows Mars and Victoria among horses. The red jasper intaglios bear a left-facing youth; a dog with her puppy; and a right-facing Ceres, goddess of the harvest. The citrine piece shows Minerva with her helmet. The carnelian pieces show Victoria; a swan; a hippocamp; a left-facing man; nude Herakles with a club; another hippocamp; Asclepius with a snake staff; Pan; a horse and rider; a pair of anchors and a caduceus staff; Minerva with her helmet; a standing man with a shield; a left-facing centurion helmet; a basket of grains; a figure on a boat; and a striding hare. Size of largest (nude Herakles): 0.625" W x 0.55" H (1.6 cm x 1.4 cm)
Provenance: ex-Frances Artuner collection, Belgium, collected in the 1960s
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#138947
Condition
Some items are fragments of larger intaglios with losses to some areas. All items have nicks and very light abrasions, with light softening to some finer details on some items, and very light encrustations within some incised details. Great remains of original detailing throughout.