3rd Jul, 2024 10:00
Royalty, Antiques & Fine Art
1625
Carved onyx or chalcedony figure of Emperor Trajan
Carved onyx or chalcedony figure of Emperor Trajan, believed to be Ancient Roman, 9.5cm high. NB: A similar figure in the British Museum GR 1909.5-26.1. dated to AD 90-120. This lot is accompanied by copies of two related letters dated 1951 the first addressed to the then owner Dr Mirosovic Sorgo, from art historian and classicist Charles Seltman (1886-1957) referring to comparable examples of small busts of Trajan, one in agate in Florence and another in chalcedony in Hamburg. The second letter addressed to a Mr Babelon (art historian Jean Babelon 1889-1978) discussing the sculpture and by way of an introduction...,' Dear Mr Babylon. You may remember that some time ago I sent you photographs, of a very beautiful small bust carved in pink and yellow onyx and representing the Emperor Trajan. At that time you wrote to say that on comparing it with similar treasures in the Bibliotheque Nationale, you had come to the conclusion that it was undoubtedly a genuine work of art, but made. later than the reign of Trajan, and possibly in the Constantinian period.
Featuring in our July Fine Art auction is the Mirošević-Sorgo Collection
Featuring in our July Fine Art auction is the Mirošević-Sorgo Collection. Removed from two London flats in Kensington and Earls Court, the 170 lot collection comprises fine furniture, Old Master paintings and icons, silver, Classical antiquities and curios, all by family descent. The Mirošević-Sorgo family were Dubrovnik nobility who emigrated to the U.K. in the 1940s. They counted amongst their members Count Niko Mirošević-Sorgo (1885-1966), Yugoslavian ambassador to the Vatican, who was gifted a pair of 18th century giltwood chairs by Pope Pius XII, family tradition maintains the chairs were originally in the Vatican. Offered as lot 1534 in this sale; they are estimated at £1000-1500. Other furniture in the collection is known to have been acquired directly from General Marmont, Napoleon's general who was given the title of duc de Raguse when Napoleon appointed him as governor of the Illyrian provinces. Further highlights in this collection include lot 1625, a small carved onyx or chalcedony figure of Emperor Trajan, probably 4th century A.D. and estimated at £3000-5000. Lot 1603, a 16th century Creto-Venetian icon, estimated at £2500-4000 and lot 1584 a Pompeian style late 18th century Italian painted plaster table plateau, estimated at £5000-10000. Some items were sold from the collection some decades back, including a Fra Angelico Madonna, now in the Getty Museum, which demonstrates the potential significance of this wonderful collection, much of which has been retained within the family for centuries.
Sold
Condition Report
Wear throughout, an area of indention centrally in the forehead, possibly originally a fixing? there are rough areas of the stone including large area to left hand shoulder and elsewhere to edges, it's unclear whether this is damage or unworked areas of the stone.
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Auction: Royalty, Antiques & Fine Art, 3rd Jul, 2024
Reeman Dansie’s Royalty, Antiques & Fine Art Sale concluded on Wednesday after two full days of bidding. The sale began with 200 lots of Royal memorabilia, where highlights included a rare 18ct gold chalice to commemorate the investiture of H.R.H. Prince Charles as Prince of Wales (lot 130, £23,305).
The Royalty section was followed by ceramics and glass, where the top-selling lot was a Royal Crown Derby vase and cover painted by George Darlington (lot 269, £2921). There was also interest in a range of Chinese, English, and continental porcelain pieces. Day one of the sale concluded with jewellery and silver: a 19th century Italian micromosaic bracelet sold for well above estimate, eventually making £2667 (lot 516).
Day two of the sale began with works of art, where there was good competition for a number of lots, including a fine quality Japanese lacquered shibayama koro (lot 748, £3683). Pictures followed, with everything from Old Masters to contemporary works on offer: highlights included two paintings of dogs by Arthur Wardle, which sold for £7112 and £8382 respectively (lots 886 and 905).
After the furniture and rugs section, the sale concluded with the Mirošević-Sorgo collection, which comprised fine furniture, Old Master paintings and icons, silver, Classical antiquities and curios, all by family descent.
Our next Fine Art & Antique auction will be held in August; please call our office on 01206 754754 or email auctions@reemandansie.com if you have any items you’d like to be valued.
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