A Roman Marble Pilaster Capital Fragment, circa 2nd Century A.D.
Estimate:
7,000 - 10,000 GBP
Estimate:
7,000 - 10,000 GBP
Lot sold:
8,820
GBP
A Roman Marble Pilaster Capital Fragment
circa 2nd Century A.D.
carved in relief with a fruit- and grain-filled cornucopia emerging from a calyx of flowering acanthus; no restorations.
56 by 44 cm.
As shown.
Chips and abrasions overall. Areas of black paint including on breaks suggest that entire object was once painted over in modern times.
Back sawn flat and polished smooth in antiquity with ancient trapezoidal mortise, three drillholes and their plastic sleeves for and older mount, and a steel hook for current mounting.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot provided by Sotheby's. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colours and shades which are different to the lot's actual colour and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation because Sotheby's is not a professional conservator or restorer but rather the condition report is a statement of opinion genuinely held by Sotheby's. For that reason, Sotheby's condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot.
For related examples see http://arachne.uni-koeln.de/item/objekt/94964, http://arachne.uni-koeln.de/item/objekt/91915, and http://arachne.uni-koeln.de/item/objekt/132084.