Lot Essay
For a recent discussion of Roman miniature sculptures in gemstone, see Padgett, "A Chalcedony Statuette of Herakles" in Record of the Art Museum of Princeton University, vol. 54, no. 1, 1995.
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CIRCA 2ND CENTURY A.D.
Details
A ROMAN CHALCEDONY HEAD
circa 2nd century a.d.
Of gray-blue translucent chalcedony, depicting a bearded man, perhaps a Dacian or other "barbarian," modelled with precise, portrait-like features, the deep-set lidded eyes beneath a furrowed brow, the nose with a pronounced bulge on the bridge, with full beard and mustache, a mantle pulled up over the top of his head, with curling locks of hair protruding along the forehead, the mantle with a fringed edge, original surface polish intact
15/16in. (2.4cm.) high
circa 2nd century a.d.
Of gray-blue translucent chalcedony, depicting a bearded man, perhaps a Dacian or other "barbarian," modelled with precise, portrait-like features, the deep-set lidded eyes beneath a furrowed brow, the nose with a pronounced bulge on the bridge, with full beard and mustache, a mantle pulled up over the top of his head, with curling locks of hair protruding along the forehead, the mantle with a fringed edge, original surface polish intact
15/16in. (2.4cm.) high