Londra, Italia
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22 aprile 2022 ore 15:00 CEST (14:00 BST)
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LOTTO 264:
A late roman two-layered onyx cameo set in a gold ring. Hand pinches earlobe with greek inscription.
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Venduto per: £12 500
Prezzo iniziale:
£
2 500
Prezzo stimato :
£4 000 - £6 000
Commissione per la casa d'aste: 26%
Altri dettagli
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A late roman two-layered onyx cameo set in a gold ring. Hand pinches earlobe with greek inscription.
3rd - 4th century A.D.
Stone 13 x 19 mm; ring size diam. 15,5 mm; 5,30 gr.
On this cameo, a hand pinches an earlobe between the thumb and forefinger; above a greek inscription- ΜΝΗΜΟΝΕΥΕ ΜΟΥ (Μνμονευε μου) meaning « Remember me ». In Roman art and literature, the ear-tweaking hand is a common motif, meaning a request for attention. Gems such as this were mementos of love, and were probably given as gifts. The motif of the hand pinching or touching the ear as a stimulus to memory, thought to derive from the writings on natural history by Pliny the Elder, is fairly common in Roman gems, and the Greek inscription translates as 'Remember'. Such inscribed gems were popular, and other mottos such as 'Good Luck', 'Unity', or 'Farewell' also exist. The gold mounting is with rounded hoop extending on high raised oval bezel containing the cameo. Wear marks on the surface of the ring. Parallels: Louvre museum, inv. Bj 1296; British museum, inv. 1814,0704.1630; Getty museum, inv. 2001.28.11; Hermitage cat. n. 246, 247, 248, 391
Provenance: english private collection B.C., London, acquired on the London art market in 1975.
