Lot 127
Ancient Mediterranean, Italic cultures, ca. 2nd to 1st century BCE; Europe, Neoclassical period, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A gorgeous Italic intaglio of Fufluns, the Italic god of wine equivalent to Greek Dionysus or Roman Liber or Bacchus, hand-carved from banded agate and set into a Neoclassical rose gold ring to be wearable. Facing left, the bearded god is shown in profile, draped in cascading robes as he holds a thyrsus in one hand and a wine skin or theatre mask in the other. Also known as Puphluns or Fufluns Pachies or Pacha, Fufluns was a god of plant life, happiness, wine, health, and growth in all things. He was adopted by the Romans but was quickly meshed with Dionysus and his rituals were changed heavily by the influence of Dionysian frenzies. Size of intaglio: 0.6" L x 0.4" W (1.5 cm x 1 cm); of ring: 0.9" L x 0.7" W (2.3 cm x 1.8 cm); US ring size: 5.25; gold quality: 48.9% (over 11 karats); weight: 5 grams
Fufluns is usually depicted as a beardless youth, but is sometimes rarely shown as an older, bearded man, as shown here. Fufluns is associated with several other deities in art, including Apulu (Apollo) who is considered his brother and his mother Semla. In association with them, Fufluns was sometimes seen as a chthonic deity associated with the underworld and a psychopomp that guided and protected souls. Fufluns was additionally associated with a purely Etruscan goddess named Catha.
A similar Italic banded agate ring stone of Fufluns hammered $163,800 at Christie's New York on April 14, 2022 as lot 24 ("Masterpieces in Miniature: Ancient Engraved Gems formerly in the G. Sangiorgi Collection Part III," Online Auction 20996).
Provenance: ex-Dr. Corinne Bronfman estate, Washington D.C., USA, acquired via descent; ex-Marjorie Bronfman collection, Montreal, Canada, acquired March 31,1966
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#186709
- Condition: Ancient intaglio set in a Neoclassical ring to be wearable. Patina to ring, but otherwise, ring and intaglio are intact and excellent. Nice preservation of incised detail. Lightly scratched inscription on interior of hoop appears to read "-/3."
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
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| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |