CIRCA 3RD CENTURY B.C.

Details

AN ITALIC BANDED AGATE RINGSTONE WITH PERSEUS HOLDING THE HEAD OF MEDUSA
CIRCA 3RD CENTURY B.C.
7/16 in. (1.1 cm.) long

Provenance

Giorgio Sangiorgi (1886-1965), Rome, acquired and brought to Switzerland, late 1930s; thence by continuous descent to the current owner.

Special notice

This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Claudio Corsi Specialist, Head of Department

ccorsi@christies.com +44 (0) 20 7389 2607

Lot Essay

The flat stone is engraved with the figure of Perseus. The hero is nude except for a cloak draped over his back, stooping down to his winged feet, one foot on a circular object, the sword leaning between his legs, holding the frontal head of medusa in his outstretched hand, within a hatched border. For representations of Perseus on glyptic art see "Perseus", in LIMC, Vol. VII, pp. 33 and 341, nos 48a-b and 150b for earlier Etruscan gems.

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