CIRCA 18TH CENTURY

Details

A EUROPEAN CARNELIAN RINGSTONE WITH A SATYR
CIRCA 18TH CENTURY
11/16 in. (1.7 cm.) long; ring size 7 ½

Provenance

Impression taken by T. Cades ca. 1831-1849 for the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Rome.
John Postle Heseltine (1843-1929), London.
Antique Gems, Greek Coins, and Greek and Roman Antiquities of J. P. Heseltine, Esq., Christie's, London, 19 April 1921, lot 56 (part).
Landsberg, acquired from the above (according to auctioneer's book).
Marjorie Bronfman (1917-2012), Montreal, acquired by 1978; gifted to her daughter, Dr. Corinne Bronfman (1947-2022), Washington, D.C.; thence by descent to the current owner.

Literature

T. Cades, Impronte Gemmarie dell'Instituto, Rome, 1831-1849, libro 10, classe II, A, no. 222.
Beazley Archive Gem Database no. 10.II.A.222.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Hannah Fox Solomon Head of Department, Specialist

hsolomon@christies.com +1 212 636 2256

Lot Essay

The muscular nude satyr is depicted standing on a groundline, with one arm raised, holding a jug in one hand and a handled cup in the other. An animal skin is draped over one arm. An impression of this gem was taken by Tommaso Cades, who was commissioned by the German Institute in Rome to document important gem collections. Photographs of the 53 volumes of the Cades impressions are viewable on the Beazley Archive Gem Database. The gem is mounted as a swivel ring in an early 19th century gold setting; the underside of the bezel is incised with the number 196.

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