Click image to view full screen
Intaglio: Imperial Eagle
✓ Authenticity guarantee · ✓ Specialist condition report · ✓ Insured worldwide shipping · ✓ Private-room viewing
This intaglio, or engraved gem, depicts an eagle with wings partially spread, a lightning bolt clutched in its feet. The bird looks to the upper right, suggesting it may be about to take flight. This gem is expertly carved, with each individual feather of the eagle described with thin lines. The eagle was a symbol associated with the Roman imperial family, Roman military, and Jupiter, the supreme Roman deity. The setting is likely ancient, and it retains traces of enameling in some loops.
| Artist / Maker | Italy, Rome, probably Augustan |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1–25 CE |
| Culture / Origin | Italy, Rome, probably Augustan |
| Medium | carnelian |
| Dimensions | Diameter: 3.5 cm (1 3/8 in.) |
| Department | Greek and Roman Art |
| Type | Jewelry |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
Shipping & Collection
Fine-art shipping with climate control and full insurance to over 120 countries; collection by appointment.
Buying at Matchless Pieces
Register, verify your identity, and bid online or in a private room. Buyer’s premium and taxes are shown before you confirm.
