A roman garnet cameo. Comical theater mask.

1st century A.D.
Diam 7 mm ; depth 5 mm

A roman garnet cameo. Comical theater mask, with the mouth wide open, made in high relief with a flat base (as a bezel for the mounting on the piece of jewellery). Good condition, with light missing on the edge.
A very similar sample is in the Farnese Collection ( cfr. Ulrico Pannuti, Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli. La collezione glittica, pp. 283-284. Such specimen has already been attested in the Orsini inventory, where we find mentioned a "GRANATA con una maschera in rilieuo" (sic.)). Intense stone colour.
"
U.K. private collection

Estimate: GBP 500 - 600