Lot 46
  • 46

A ROMAN MARBLE CINERARY URN INSCRIBED BY M. ULPIUS CORINTHUS, 1ST HALF OF THE 2ND CENTURY A.D. | A Roman Marble Cinerary Urn inscribed by M. Ulpius Corinthus

Estimate
8,000 - 12,000 GBP
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Description

  • 31.6 by 38.1 by 29.7 cm. without lid
of rectangular form, carved in front with an oak-leaf garland hanging from filleted corner bucrania, a gorgoneion in the lunette, a swan with upturned head in each lower corner, the framed panel engraved with five lines of Latin inscription, the first one fragmentary, reading ]l[...]e / Aug(usti) l(ibertae) / M(arcus) Ulpius Aug(usti) l(ibertus) / Corinthus / matri piissimae fec(it) ("... imperial freedwoman. Marcus Ulpius Corinthus, imperial freedman, made this for his most pious mother").

Provenance

in 1869 with a stone carver at 142 Via Giulia in Rome
James Powell, Austin, Texas
acquired from the above by Martha Hyder

Literature

PUBLISHED
Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum, vol. VI: Inscriptiones Urbis Romae latinae, part 4, fasc. 1, Berlin, 1894, no. 29158 (http://arachne.uni-koeln.de/item/marbilder/4272920)
Heikki Solin, Die stadtrömischen Sklavennamen: ein Namenbuch, Stuttgart, 1996, p. 366
Paul Weaver, Repertorium Familiae Caesarum, p. 184, no. 1172 (http://alte-geschichte.phil-fak.uni-koeln.de/fileadmin/home/Abteilungen/Alte_Geschichte/Mitarbeiter/Eck/Weaver/07_Ulpii.pdf)

Condition

One short side of urn restored in marble, starting behind eagle and animal skull. Joins covered in painted plaster. At least one inch off top of urn is missing; top has been smoothed down. Entire bottom carved out. Surface consistently weathered overall. Circular hole on unrestored side. Lid finely carved with better preserved surface. Rosettes in front of rotuli damaged as shown. Ends of rotuli in back are undecorated but also chipped, as well top of pediment and adjoining section of rooftiles.
"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

For the decoration of the urn cf. e.g. F. Sinn, Stadtrömische Marmorurnen, 1987, p. 177, no. 356 and pl. 58, a.