CIRCA 2ND CENTURY A.D.

Details

A ROMAN MARBLE CINERARY ALTAR
CIRCA 2ND CENTURY A.D.
22 in. (56 cm.) high

Provenance

Nicolas Koutoulakis (1910-1996), Paris and Geneva; thence by descent to the present 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. Following the auction, this lot will be stored at Crozier Park Royal and will be available for collection from 12.00pm on the second business day after the sale. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Crozier Park Royal. All collections from Crozier Park Royal will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 I Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Claudio Corsi Specialist, Head of Department

ccorsi@christies.com +44 (0) 20 7389 2607

Lot Essay

This urn is in the form of an altar with a shallow, hollowed-out cavity to receive ashes. On the front there is a recessed panel with inscription reading, 'Marcus Manlius Zethus, freedman of Marcus. Marcus Manlius Stephanianus, son of Manlius erected this to his most indulgent father and by his widow Manlia Saturnina, to her fellow-freedman and husband. They did this for him and for themselves'. Below is a portrait of the deceased flanked by erotes holding garlands and spirally fluted columns. Each side panel is carved with a tree with birds standing below. For similar side panel decoration cf. G. B. Waywell, The Lever and Hope Sculptures, Berlin, 1986, lever no. 13, pl. 21.

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