A ROMAN ONYX CAMEO PORTRAIT OF THE EMPEROR CLAUDIUS - photo 1

A ROMAN ONYX CAMEO PORTRAIT OF THE EMPEROR CLAUDIUS

Lot 7
27.01.2023 12:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
$ 352 800
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 887757
Lot 7 | A ROMAN ONYX CAMEO PORTRAIT OF THE EMPEROR CLAUDIUS
Estimate value
$ 300 000 – 500 000
A ROMAN ONYX CAMEO PORTRAIT OF THE EMPEROR CLAUDIUS

REIGN 41-54 A.D.

3 in. (7.6 cm.) long





Provenance

George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough (1739-1817), Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, acquired circa 1771 (possibly listed as 'A Large Head of Caligula on an Agathe Onyx-Cam' on a manuscript titled "Gemms bought within this year or two. 1771"); thence by descent to his son, George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough (1766-1840), Blenheim Palace; thence by descent to his son, George Spencer-Churchill, 6th Duke of Marlborough (1793–1857), Blenheim Palace; thence by descent to his son, John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough (1822-1883), Blenheim Palace.

The Marlborough Gems: Being a Collection of Works in Cameo and Intaglio Formed by George, Third Duke of Marlborough, Christie's, London, 28 June-1 July 1875, lot 407.

David Bromilow (1809-1898), Bitteswell Hall, Leicestershire, acquired from the above; thence by descent to his daughter, Julia Harriet Mary Jary, Bitteswell Hall, Leicestershire.

The Marlborough Gems: A Collection of Works in Cameo and Intaglio Formed by George, Third Duke of Marlborough, Purchased by the Late David Bromilow, Esq., of Bitteswell Hall, Lutterworth, the Property of Mrs. Jary, Christie's, London, 26-29 June 1899, lot 407.

with Francis E. Whelan (1848-1907), London, acquired from the above on behalf of John Charles Robinson (1824-1913) (according to the auctioneer's book).

Sir Francis Cook, 1st Viscount of Montserrat (1817-1901), Doughty House, Richmond, acquired from the above; thence by descent to his son, Wyndham Francis Cook (1860-1905), London; thence by descent to his wife, Frederica Evelyn Stillwell Cook (d. 1925), London; thence by descent to her son, Humphrey Wyndham Cook (1893-1978), London.

An Important Collection of Greek, Roman and Etruscan Antiquities and Antique and Renaissance Gems, the Property of Humphrey W. Cook, Esq., Christie's, London, 14 July 1925, lot 341.

Nyburg, acquired from the above (according to auctioneer's book; likely Henry or Solomon Nyburg of Antique Art Galleries Ltd., London).

with Rafael Esmerian, New York.

with S.J. Phillips, London, acquired from the above, 2000.

with David Miller, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.

Private Collection, U.S., acquired from the above.

The Property of a U.S. Private Collector; Ancient Jewelry, Christie's, New York, 9 December 2004, lot 149.

Acquired by the current owner from the above.



Literature

M.H. Nevil Story-Maskelyne, The Marlborough Gems: Being a Collection of Works in Cameo and Intaglio Formed by George, Third Duke of Marlborough, London, 1870, p. 70, no. 407.

C.H. Smith and C. Amy Hutton, Catalogue of the Antiquities (Greek, Etruscan and Roman) in the Collection of the Late Wyndham Francis Cook, Esqre., London, 1908, p. 67, no. 288, pl. 15.

J. Boardman, "The Marlborough Gems," lecture given at Ioannou School for Classical and Byzantine Studies, Oxford University, April 2008 (accessible at https://www.carc.ox.ac.uk/carc/gems/The-Marlborough-Collection/Lecture-by-John-Boardman-on-the-collection).

G. Platz-Horster, ed., Mythos und Macht: Erhabene Bilder in Edelstein, Berlin, 2008, p. 25, n. 17.

J. Boardman, et al., The Marlborough Gems, Formerly at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, London, 2009, p. 242, no. 553.
Medium:Cameo glass, Stone
Art style:Ancient Art
Place of origin:Italy, Europe, Roman Empire
Auction house category:Ancient Art & Antiquities
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
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21.01.2023 – 26.01.2023
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
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