A precious roman agate-carnelian intaglio. Two theater masks with attributes. A mask of an elder in 3/4 is joined with a mask of a young faune, seen in profile. The older character, identifiable with a Silenus, is characterized by a corrugated face ina grimace, with a wide open mouth, which is surrounded by a moustache and a thick fluted beard (the tong is visible inside the mouth, this detail shows the high quality of the engraver according to a certain incisive virtuosity). The pupils are hallow on the impression, as well the younger character with the typical untidy rebel hair of the faune. Also the faune is characterized by a contorted open mouth, in which is inserted the index of a hand closed in a fist. This iconographyvery unusual, rare and emblematic, contains an allegoric meaning perhaps referable to some scenic episode taken from theatrical works, without excluding the relative ironic andexquisitely grotesque allusions. Behind the elder mask, we see the ribbons and a double flute (tibiae); near the faune mask, a syringe, both musical instruments. This composition is very unusual and fantasist, is inspired by some roman marble reliefs depicting joint theater masks with various attributes (Roma, Musei Vaticani; Roma, Musei Capitolini; Vienna, Kunsthistorischen Museum; Pompei) and from the glyptic's production. Cfr : Pirzio Biroli Stefanelli, la collezione Paoletti, vol. I, pp. 159-160 ("maschere sceniche"). The intaglio is executed with great art and with a very high technical skill. Generously sized stone and very beautiful variageted color. Slight wear marks and mirror polishing of the intaglio. Biconvex setting with slight chips on the reverse. 1st century A.D. UK private collection.

18 x 14 x 5 mm