CIRCA 4TH CENTURY B.C.

Details

AN ETRUSCAN CARNELIAN SCARAB WITH HERCLE ON A RAFT
CIRCA 4TH CENTURY B.C.
11/16 in. (1.7 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 underside of the beetle is engraved in the a-globolo style, with the hero Hercle reclining on a raft of amphorae, holding his club with a wineskin as a pillow. This motif is frequently encountered in Etruscan art and may possibly contain a reference to a particular Etruscan theme of Hercle as a water god. However, the scene could also refer to his journey west to the “Pillars of Herakles”, which in antiquity were thought to be the western edge of the world. For similar Etruscan gems see "Herakles/Hercule", in LIMC, vol. V, nos 337-340.

More from Antiquities: Including Ancient Engraved Gems Formerly in the G. Sangiorgi Collection Part IV

View All