3 Roman Jasper and Carnelian Intaglios | Mouse Biga with Roosters, Cupid, Satyr

Roman, Imperial period. Three unmounted engraved gems, each no larger than a fingernail, made for setting in finger rings and for sealing. The largest, an ovoid [color] jasper, shows a winged Cupid in a robe, feet turned right and head turned back to the left, holding out a bow. A thicker hexagonal carnelian carries a humorous device: a mouse driving a biga drawn by two roosters, a parody chariot race of the kind Roman gem cutters enjoyed. The smallest, an ovoid [color] jasper, shows the profile head of a horned, goateed satyr or Pan facing left. Intaglios like these served as personal seals, the impression standing in for a signature on documents, letters and goods, while the imagery reflected the owner’s humor, cult loyalties or hopes for good fortune. Animal parody gems, mice, cocks, and insects mimicking human occupations, were a recognized minor genre of Roman glyptic, especially in the first and second centuries CE. The rooster-drawn biga plays on the language of the circus, where the quadriga and biga were the emblems of victory; substituting a mouse for a charioteer and cockerels for horses turns the imperial spectacle into a joke small enough to wear on a finger. Cupid with the bow and the horned head of Pan belong to the far larger repertoire of Bacchic and amatory subjects, gems chosen as much for protective charm as for decoration. Jasper and carnelian were the workhorse stones of the Roman gem cutter: hard enough to take a crisp intaglio from the wheel and drill, and, crucially, resistant enough to warm wax that the sealed impression released cleanly. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. Item # 204650

Estimate:£223.71

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