• Home
  • Auction 43
  • 227 Extraordinary and rare Hellenistic intaglio in banded ...

Lot 227 - Auction 43

Extraordinary and rare Hellenistic intaglio in banded agate. Portrait of Antiochus IX.
Price realized:
5.500,00 GBP
Bids:
24

Bids

Lot status:
Auction closed

Description



Extraordinary and rare Hellenistic intaglio in banded agate. Portrait of Antiochus IX.

Remarkable Hellenistic intaglio in banded agate. Portrait of Antiochus III, also called Cizicenus (135 - 95 B.C.), of the Seleucid Kingdom. Son of Antiochus VII Sidetes and of Cleopatra Tea, after his father's death in Partia he was sent off to Cyzicus, on the Bosphorus, the town where his moniker comes from. In 116 B.C. he came back to Syria in order to avenge the throne against his cousin Antiochus VIII Gripus, with whom he carved up the kingdom. In 95 B.C. he was killed in battle by Seleucus VI Epiphanes, son of Gripus. As we can surely deduce from the coeval coin production, Antiochus IX's typical effigy is represented by a juvenile profile with wavy but adherent hair; the head is bound by a hair band whose subtle endings fall down behind the nape. A light beard elegantly covers the jaw area. As usual, the eye is big, while the mouth is smaller, sometimes semi-closed, and with the lower lip a little bit backwards. The edge of the neck follows an inward curve. This portrait on striped agate (transparent in some areas, opaque in others) masterfully expresses, in all its distinctive features, the effigy of the Seleucid King. The white band in the stone is intentionally and artistically oriented, according to the direction of the hairband. The area shows light signs of ancient wear, while the intaglio is characterized by an extraordinary mirror-finish polishing. We cannot avoid the possibility of the setting edges being re-elaborated afterwards, since the edge proves to be quite resistant to engravings. mm 19 x 15 x 3
2nd – 1st century B.C.

Only registered and authorized users are allowed to place bids.

Please use the registration form to send us your participation request, or, if you are already registered and authorized, use the login box on the top.

For any information please contact info@bertolamifineart.com