A Roman marble relief of a merchant ship
Circa 1st Century A.D.
Carved in low relief, possibly from a stele, the ship with the prow angled downwards, a small fore-sail at the bow, the central mast supporting a large rectangular main sail, with six rigging lines behind, one diagonally across the front and four from the back, the ships starboard side detailed with horizontal boarding and openwork decking at the stern, the ships flag behind, two steering rudders below and a small skiff tethered from the back, the top of the stele with the remnants of the feet of two figures above, 25in (63.5) diam, 19in (48.5cm) high, 6in (15cm) deep, mounted
Circa 1st Century A.D.
Carved in low relief, possibly from a stele, the ship with the prow angled downwards, a small fore-sail at the bow, the central mast supporting a large rectangular main sail, with six rigging lines behind, one diagonally across the front and four from the back, the ships starboard side detailed with horizontal boarding and openwork decking at the stern, the ships flag behind, two steering rudders below and a small skiff tethered from the back, the top of the stele with the remnants of the feet of two figures above, 25in (63.5) diam, 19in (48.5cm) high, 6in (15cm) deep, mounted
Sold for
£36,000
inc. premium
Footnotes
- Provenance:
English private collection, since 1979. Formerly from the estate of a private collector of ancient art.
Literature:
For extensive illustration and bibliography on this type of nautical sculpture cf. Exhibition Catalogue: Ostia, port de la Rome antique, Musée Rath, (Geneva 2001).
Auction Notices
- Please note that this lot will be available for collection at New Bond Street until 5pm on Friday 2 May, after which it will be sent to our Relay Road premises for storage. Please note that storage charges will apply from Thursday 29 May.
Category: Antiquities
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