A ROMAN CHALCEDONY PHALERA

CIRCA 2ND CENTURY A.D.

Details

A ROMAN CHALCEDONY PHALERA
Circa 2nd Century A.D.
Disk-shaped and perforated on both horizontal and vertical axes, with a device of a sleeping hound in high relief, his head curled around to his right and resting between his outstretched forepaws, his long bushy tail curved along the edge of the stone, the fur detailed by incised wavy lines falling symmetrically on either side of his back along a central part
1½ in. (3.8 cm) diameter

Lot Essay

According to Henig (The Content Cameos, p. 117) "metal phalerae were worn by Roman soldiers with their armour, often as military decorations but these chalcedony phalerae are presumably civilian, possibly worn with horse-trappings." The most common subject for phalerae are Gorgoneia and facing heads of Eros; reclining dogs are exceedingly rare.

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