CIRCA 2ND-1ST CENTURY B.C.

Details

TWO ITALIC BANDED AGATE RING STONES
CIRCA 2ND-1ST CENTURY B.C.
21 mm. long max.

Provenance

G. Sangiorgi collection (1886-1965), Rome.
Private collection, Monaco, 1970s; thence by descent.

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

Brought to you by

Laetitia Delaloye

ldelaloye@christies.com +44 (0)20 7752 3018

Lot Essay

The elegant elongated proportions of Venus holding Mars' sword, standing by a column, engraved on the larger sardonyx ring stone are typical of the gem production of the Hellenistic period. For similar examples cf. A. Furtwängler, Die Antiken Gemmen, Geschichte der Steinschneidekunst, Leipzig and Berlin, 1900, p. 186 ff., pl. XXXIX.

The other ring stone depicts a dancing maenad with flowing drapery.

More from Antiquities

View All