A roman republican amethyst intaglio. Two skeletons with amphora.

1st century B.C.

16 x 21 x 3,5 mm

The two skeletons are standing and symmetrically flank a large wine amphora, depicted in a central position. The skeleton on the right is held in the amphora with one hand and with the other crowns with a laurel wreath his companion, who leans peacefully against the oblong container. Groundline. The highly allegorical scene refers to death and the pleasures of life, between the memento mori and a hymn to the triumph of life that continues even after death. This representation is attested in the late roman republican repertoire and is probably inspired by similar representations present on the mosaics. Presence of globular elements. Wear marks and slight small crack. Intaglio engraved with great skill (without excluding a certain sense of irony) on a very clear variety of amethyst, which well alludes to the wine and the Dionysian sphere. Very rare.

Parallels: Antike Gemmen in Deutschen Sammlungen, Band IV, Hannover und Hamburg, n. 468; Antike Gemmen in Deutschen Sammlungen, Band II, Staatliche Museen Preubischer Kultubesitz Antikenabteilung- Berlin, n. 421 inv. FG6518.

U.K., private collection 70's, London.

Estimate: GBP 1500 - 3000