Roman Glass Intaglio - Portrait of a Bearded Man, Pale Green
Roman, Imperial period, ca. 100–300 CE. An oval intaglio in translucent pale green glass, with a gently domed upper face. The intaglio shows a portrait bust of a bearded man in profile facing left. His hair rises in a thick, wavy mass above the brow, and a full beard frames the jaw. The features are compact and modeled with economy. Like most Roman glass gems, it was likely pressed in a mold taken from a carved hardstone original. Glass let the look of an engraved stone reach a wider market. The size suits a finger-ring bezel, where it could serve as a personal seal or an ornament. Size: 0.59" H x 0.53" W x 0.18" D (1.5 cm H x 1.3 cm W x 0.5 cm D).
Engraved gems were part of daily life in Rome. They were set in rings and pressed into wax or clay to seal documents, storerooms, and correspondence. Glass versions, cast from molds of engraved originals, copied the look of carnelian, chalcedony, and other hardstones at a much lower cost.
Full beards and thick, curling hair became the fashion for Roman men after the emperor Hadrian (r. 117-138 CE) wore a beard, and the style stayed popular under the Antonine and Severan emperors. Private portrait gems often followed the imperial look. That makes it hard to say whether a given bearded head shows a particular ruler, a philosopher type, or the owner himself.
Provenance: ex-private collection New Jersey, USA, via family descent, originally acquired in the 1980s
SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700.
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.
Item #205244
Condition
Some chipping to edges and weathering to surface as commensurate with age. Otherwise, very nice with liberal remaining detail. Accompanied by modern impression.
Estimate
Reserve
Time, Location
Auction House
Roman, Imperial period, ca. 100–300 CE. An oval intaglio in translucent pale green glass, with a gently domed upper face. The intaglio shows a portrait bust of a bearded man in profile facing left. His hair rises in a thick, wavy mass above the brow, and a full beard frames the jaw. The features are compact and modeled with economy. Like most Roman glass gems, it was likely pressed in a mold taken from a carved hardstone original. Glass let the look of an engraved stone reach a wider market. The size suits a finger-ring bezel, where it could serve as a personal seal or an ornament. Size: 0.59" H x 0.53" W x 0.18" D (1.5 cm H x 1.3 cm W x 0.5 cm D).
Engraved gems were part of daily life in Rome. They were set in rings and pressed into wax or clay to seal documents, storerooms, and correspondence. Glass versions, cast from molds of engraved originals, copied the look of carnelian, chalcedony, and other hardstones at a much lower cost.
Full beards and thick, curling hair became the fashion for Roman men after the emperor Hadrian (r. 117-138 CE) wore a beard, and the style stayed popular under the Antonine and Severan emperors. Private portrait gems often followed the imperial look. That makes it hard to say whether a given bearded head shows a particular ruler, a philosopher type, or the owner himself.
Provenance: ex-private collection New Jersey, USA, via family descent, originally acquired in the 1980s
SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700.
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.
Item #205244
Condition
Some chipping to edges and weathering to surface as commensurate with age. Otherwise, very nice with liberal remaining detail. Accompanied by modern impression.
Estimate
Reserve
Time, Location
Auction House
