A Roman Foliate Pavonazzetto Marble Column, circa 2nd Century A.D.

carved with horizontal echeloned rows of pointed and veined leaves, five rows pointing up above two spiralled fillets, and two rows pointing down below, the top decorated with deep vertical fluting, a square mortise on top of the shaft; on a later Italian white marble octagonal base stenciled in red on one side '12047'.

Maximilian Graf (Wuppertal, 1892 - Berlin, 1959), Berlin-Schmargendorf, acquired in the 1930s or earlier
by descent to the present owners

RECORDED
black-and-white print showing the column in Maximilian Graf's house in Berlin, part of a photographic album documenting the entire residence sometime between 1936-1938

Repaired diagonally across the middle with areas of minor painted restoration along the break. Side not shown slightly more weathered. Minor chips and abrasions consistent with age. Side not shown: three rosettes almost washed out, Areas of incrustation overall. Ancient channel and morties of quadrangular section on top. Lower part of column: small areas of restoration. Bottom of the pillar does not seem to be the original bottom. Horizontal cable bands probably at centre of original column.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Two related white marble columns acquired from Piranesi in the late 18th Century are in the Gustav III Museum of Antiquities in Stockholm, inv. nos. NM SK 277 and 278. A drawing of another related column, once in the Museo Cartaceo of Cassiano dal Pozzo, is now in the British Museum, inv. no. 2005,0927.61. Thomas Hope owned two columns with similar decoration, both after the antique, which he used as pedestals for reproductions of ancient marble vases (see T. Hope, Household furniture & interior decoration, 1807, pl. I [The statue gallery"]; Spink & Son, Ltd., London, An Exhibition of Antique Sculpture, 1986, p. 44, fig. 2, and p. 110, no. 107. For other examples in limestone, many of which are in the Römisch-Germanisches Museum in Cologne, see G. Bauchhenss and P. Noelke, Die Iupitersäulen in den Germanischen Provinzen, 1981.

Maximilian Graf (1892-1959) was the owner a large Aluminium refinery in Berlin before Word War II, the Berliner Aluminium- und Staniol- Fabrik, Fehling & Co., K.-G., Berlin SW29, Hasenheide 9 (or Urbanstr. 64). He was also a collector of Chinese art and European sculpture. The large majority of his art collection, which he kept in his house in Schmargendorf and was later stored in a secure location during the war, was dispersed once the conflict ended. The present column broke in two halves during the Allied bombing of Berlin, when a phosphorus bomb took out a corner of the house. It was then stored in the basement until the family had it repaired and replaced in its original location in the house.