A Marble Pillar, Roman Imperial, Augustan, late 1st Century B.C./early 1st Century A.D.

in Neo-Attic style, slightly tapering, carved on one side in low relief with a flowering acanthus plant, and on the other side in higher relief with a herm of Silenus surmounted by two female season personifications each in the form of a woman wearing a chiton and himation and walking to left with billowing drapery, Summer holding a garland in one hand and sheaves of wheat in the other, Autumn carrying pomegranates and bunches of grapes in the fold of her garment, each of the short sides decorated with a thyrsos.

Baron Valentin de Courcel (1838-1917), Villa Faustina, Promenade de la Croisette, Cannes, France, late 19th century
by inheritance to Madame Valentin de Courcel (d. 1923), Cannes (Baussy et Morot, Vente aux enchères des sculptures de la Villa Faustina à Cannes, November 27th, 1923, no. 25: "Pilastre ou piédroit: le devant décoré d’un dieu terme surmonté de deux personnages féminins tenant des fleurs, les côtés ornés de gaufrures. Marbre veiné. Hauteur: 1 m; largeur 0.18 m.”)

As shown and described, surface of acanthus motif pristine, other surfaces seem to have been coated with a protective layer which has darkened and discolored over time, hole drilled near top of acanthus motif as shown, probably for modern mounting of pillar, edges adjacent to acanthus motif on both narrow sides scuffed with red paint, scattered chips and abrasions, chips particularly to edges, small area at lower left corner of side with season relief and adjacent section of narrow side repaired, including approximately half of the base of the herm.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

For the acanthus motif cf. M. Mathea-Förtsch, Römische Rankenpfeiler und -pilaster, Mainz am Rhein, 1999, nos. 4 (Amsterdam) and 55 (Frascati). For closely related representations of the seasons see "Horae," Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae, vol. V, 1990, p. 511, no. 3 (terracotta Campana reliefs), and the previous lot.

There is an old faded Italian inscription in pencil on the herm shaft.