- 28
A fragmentary Onyx Cameo of Athena Parthenos, circa 1st Century A.D., or later
Estimate
12,000 - 18,000 GBP
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Description
- A fragmentary Onyx Cameo of Athena Parthenos
- onyx
- Max. length 7.3 cm.; max. thickness 1.5 cm.
of slightly convex form in front and concave in back, probably from a larger composition, the goddess facing left and wearing a scaly aegis with gorgoneion, pendant earring, and helmet with couchant sphinx supporting the crest, Pegasos on the side, four prancing horses in front, and fragmentary turned-up cheek-guard, her long hair flowing down to her shoulders from beneath the broad neck-guard.
Provenance
Sir John Charles Robinson (1824-1913), Newton Manor, Swanage, Dorset
Sir Francis Cook, Bt., 1st Viscount of Monserrate (1817-1901), Doughty House, Richmond, Surrey, acquired from the above
by inheritance to his youngest son Wyndham Francis Cook (d. 1905)
by inheritance to his son, Humphrey W. Cook, London (Christie, Manson & Woods, London, July 14th, 1925, no. 180, illus.)
Sir Francis Cook, Bt., 1st Viscount of Monserrate (1817-1901), Doughty House, Richmond, Surrey, acquired from the above
by inheritance to his youngest son Wyndham Francis Cook (d. 1905)
by inheritance to his son, Humphrey W. Cook, London (Christie, Manson & Woods, London, July 14th, 1925, no. 180, illus.)
Literature
Cecil H. Smith and C. Amy Hutton, Catalogue of the Antiquities (Greek, Etruscan and Roman) in the Collection of the Late Wyndham Francis Cook, Esquire., London, 1908, p. 70, no. 302 [785], pl. 12, as "Graeco-Roman(?) work... Apparently a fragment broken from a larger composition"
Maria João Neto, Monserrate: The Romantic Country House of an English Family, Casal de Cambra, 2016, p. 94, fig. 129
Maria João Neto, Monserrate: The Romantic Country House of an English Family, Casal de Cambra, 2016, p. 94, fig. 129
Condition
Very good. Shallow chip on cheek-flap. Head of forward horse protruding above top edge. All edges rough, except for top one, which appears to have been smoothed over somewhat. Back summarily worked.
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
This cameo is a welcome addition to the testimonia regarding the chryselephantine cult statue of Athena Parthenos created by Phidias (see S. Kansteiner, et al., eds., Der Neue Overbeck, vol. 2, 2014, pp. 171ff., no. 10).
Compared to the red jasper intaglio signed by Aspasios in the Museo Nazionale Romano (LIMC, vol. 2, p. 1076, no. 13, pl. 786; K. Lapatin, Luxus. The Sumptuous Arts of Greece and Rome, 2015, p. 246, pl. 92), the present cameo is less informative with regard to details (e.g. the helmet decoration), but superior with regard to artistic sensitivity in rendering the image of the virgin goddess.
We are grateful to John Somerville, Keeper of the Cook Collection Archive, for his help in cataloguing this lot.