Wednesday dec 9 2020, 2 pm GMT (3 pm CEST)
Bertolami Fine Art, 1 Harewood Place, Mayfair (London W1S 1BU- United Kingdom), or 14 Hanover Square, Mayfair, (London, W1S 1HP - United Kingdom)
LOT 39:
A fine late hellenistic garnet intaglio. Erotic scene with herm.
|
|
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Sold for: £6,000
Start price:
£
1,200
Estimated price :
€1,500 - €3,000
Buyer's Premium: 25%
More details
|
A fine late hellenistic garnet intaglio. Erotic scene with herm.
2nd - 1st century B.C.
16 x 16 x 4 mm
A female satyr offers herself to a priapic herm on a base, her hand to its head, one foot raised on a low base. In front of her, a column surmounted by a priapic idol. Groundline. This erotic scene is inspired by ancient greek models, executed also in marble relief during the roman era. For a similar composition, see a roman marble sarcophagus carved with scenes of Bacchic revelry, 2nd century A.D. See the detail of a female Pan (and a Pan headed herm), and copied also in other similar variant as for a carnelian intaglio, Marlborough gem collection (a male with short cloak standing on a low column; a bearded satyr playing double pipes; a burning altar; a girl satyr offers herself to a priapic herm on a base, her hand to its head, one foot raised on a low base). Very vivid and attractive color of the stone. Mirror polishing. Wear marks. Rare.
Parallels: Beazley Archive - Gem Database, cast from the Marlborough gems, n. 336, carnelian intaglio in a gold ring, Story-Maskelyne, M.H.: The Marlborough Gems (1870): no. 637; Boardman, J., Scarisbrick, D., Wagner C., Zwierlein-Diehl, E: The Marlborough Gems (2009): no. 336; Catherine Johns, Sex or Symbol. Erotic images of Greece and Rome, 1989.
U.K., private collection 80's, London.
![](https://bidspirit-portal.global.ssl.fastly.net/common/images/system/pagePreLoader.gif)
![](https://bidspirit-portal.global.ssl.fastly.net/common/images/system/pagePreLoader.gif)