Antiquities

Rome & Byzantium

Lot 728
Roman Discus Lamp with Busts of Isis and Serapis. Asia Minor, c. 175-225 AD. Lamp of same type as preceding, with sharply molded busts of Isis and Serapis regarding each other. Both wear chiton and mantle; Isis with crown of moon disc, twin feathers, and bull horns, while Serapis radiate and wearing modius. Impressed on the bottom, the lamp's foot, a four line inscription in Greek designating the lamp's manufacturer. Lamp intact with moderate wear, much of the brown glaze remaining. Length: 4-5/8". Bold, provincial art. A good lamp.
Estimated Value $400-600.

Lot 729
An Interesting North African Lamp. Carthage, c. 4th-5th century AD. Lamp of good size, and molded in a deep red brown ware, with similar glaze. Lamp with circular body and elongated nozzle. Handle fin-like and unpierced. Motif a most fascinating slice of daily life: sitting in what appears to be treehouse in a tall tree, a musician plays his flute while below a hound chases a hare(?). At left, a smaller man tugs a rope leading to the construction, on top of which a bird sits. On lamp's raised shoulders, an elegant arabesque of vines, leaves, and grape bunches. Handle top chipped, otherwise lamp complete and finely preserved. Length: 6". Subjects on North African lamps fall mainly into two categories: religious or mythological. Thus, daily life scenes are rare and worthy of note.
Estimated Value $600-800.
The "treehouse" is more likely a blind, or elaborate net trap for catching game. Thus we see here a hunting scene reminiscent of many such scenes uncovered on the famed mosaics of Carthage. From various ancient sources musicians are known to be employed among the sometimes vast entourages that formed around large hunting ventures. For other lamps, cf. especially, Ennabli, Lampes Chrétiennes de Tunisie, no. 76, perhaps from the same mold, and nos. 77ff for variants. Apparently the cataloger displays uncertainty as to the motif. Citing examples in the Musee Alaoui, no. 76 is described as "chasseur," a hunter. However, no. 80, which is a slight variant to the above lamp (missing only the bird and perhaps the hound), the subject is noted as Orpheus, the mythic musician who could tame savage animals with his singing.

Lot 730
A Rare and Notable Mold for Red Ware Dishes. North Africa, Carthage, 4th-5th century AD. In carved and molded stucco or plaster, the piece of mold with an L-section of the border decoration that would have been employed for large rectangular serving dishes. The motifs are inspired by coin, medallion, or contorniate devices. Set within line and beaded borders: a frontal, cuirassed and draped imperial bust being wreathed by small Victories on either side; an emperor in frontal quadriga dispensing largesse (cf. Valentinian II, RIC 89); and a profile draped and diademed Constantinian-style imperial bust. The "coins" with circular beaded borders. Beneath each coin, a small draped profile bust -- some arranged to look in one direction only, some paired and regardant. Mold exceptionally preserved for these soft, heavily used items. Accompanying it is a fragment of redware plate that may have actually been fashioned from this specific mold. Length: 5"; Redware Length: 4". Lot of 2 pieces. Rare! Pairings of mold and product equally rare!
Estimated Value $700-900.
Coin motifs as ornamental decoration in late Roman redware ceramics is still very scarce and always sought after. This lot is an exceptional "crossover" item for the coin collector who might have though of acquiring an occasional antiquity!

Lot 731
Another Rare Numismatic Mold for Red Ware Dishes. North Africa, Carthage, 4th-5th century AD. This section of mold narrower, with a row of the border decoration that would have been employed for large rectangular serving dishes. The motifs are the same as those seen in previous lot, but larger. Chip at one corner of the face, otherwise very well preserved for the soft item it is. Accompanying it is a fragment of redware plate showing clearly the devices seen on the mold. Length: 5-3/4"; Redware Length: 3-1/4". Lot of 2 pieces. Rare and important.
Estimated Value $650-850.

Lot 732
Bronze Ring with Intaglio Portrait of Saint. Byzantine Empire, c. 9th-11th century AD. The ring nicely crafted, with round strap band, and thick circular bezel with inward sloping walls. Device: a deeply engraved frontal bust of youthful Christ or saint. He wears pallium, with one hand raised in blessing, and perhaps holding the Gospels. Nimbus about his head, with cruciform rays. Intact and choice, with crusty green, red, and olive patina. Ring width: 1"; Bezel Diameter: 5/8". Fine stylized work. A careful cleaning would only reveal more of its delights.
Estimated Value $550-650.