ROME, CIRCA 1810

Details

AN ITALIAN GOLD-MOUNTED HARDSTONE SNUFF-BOX
ROME, CIRCA 1810
rectangular gold-mounted box of green porphyry, the cover set with a micromosaic plaque depicting a view of the Roman Forum with the Temple of Vespasian and Titus in the foreground and the Column of Phocas beyond, within a polished gold frame
3¼ in. (86 mm.) wide

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU or, if the UK has withdrawn from the EU without an agreed transition deal, from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime.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.

Brought to you by

David McLachlan

dmclachlan@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2650

Lot Essay

The Emperor Vespasian died in July 79 AD and his dying words were supposedly, 'Pity. I think I am turning into a god'. He was succeeded by his son Titus who began the process of deification of his father and the construction of a temple in his honour. Titus himself died in 81 AD and the temple was completed by his younger brother Domitian sometime before 85 AD. The column of Phocas was the last addition to the Forum, erected in honour of the Byzantine Emperor Phocas in 608 AD.

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