Lot 36
Roman, Imperial period, ca. 2nd to 3rd century CE; Europe, Neoclassical period, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A beautiful Roman agate intaglio of a dolphin set in a Neoclassical gold ring to be wearable. Carved into an eye agate boasting naturally banded hues of caramel, cream, and butterscotch, the gem shows the dolphin swimming left, its sinuous body undulating horizontally with protruding fins, a 3-pronged tail, and a slender object held in its mouth. A petite circle is carved above the animal, perhaps representing the sun or moon. The Romans were largely a maritime empire, and the iconography of the sea included dolphins. Romans believed these animals carried souls to the Fortunate Isles, perhaps because they could pass through the air-breathing terrestrial world and into the watery depths that claimed so many Roman sailors' lives. Size of intaglio: 0.6" L x 0.5" W (1.5 cm x 1.3 cm); of ring: 0.9" L x 0.8" W (2.3 cm x 2 cm); US ring size: 5; gold quality: 56.4% (over 13 karats); weight: 4.3 grams
The dolphin was a strong motif in Classical culture as a whole; in the Homeric Hymn to Dionysus (Bacchus to the Romans) we learn that dolphins were once humans, created when sailors kidnapped Dionysus and he made them magically leap into the sea and transform into the grinning mammals. The dolphin was also considered the swiftest of all living beings and is associated with godliness and royalty because of its place as king of the sea.
Provenance: ex-Dr. Corinne Bronfman estate, Washington D.C., USA, acquired via descent; ex-Marjorie Bronfman collection, Montreal, Canada, acquired March 31,1966; ex-Sotheby's, London, United Kingdom, "Catalogue of the Story-Maskelyne Collection of Ancient Gems, the Property of W.E. Arnold Forster, Esq.," 4-5 July 1921, lot 180; ex-William Arnold Forster (1886-1951), Cornwall and London, United Kingdom; ex-M.H. Story Maskelyne (1823-1911), Wroughton, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
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#186613
- Condition: Ancient intaglio set in a Neoclassical ring to be wearable. Ring and intaglio are intact and in overall excellent condition with nice preservation of detail.
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