A rare Roman carnelian intaglio. Satyr sculpting his self-portrait on the shield.
10 x 12 x 2 mm
A satyr facing left rests a knee on the ground and is depicted in the act of chiselling his self-portrait on a shield; holding the chisel with the left hand, while the right hand is holding the hammer. The face of the satyr is characterized by a marked profile with a curved nose and pointed beard on the chin; the facial features of the face are perfectly reproduced on the shield with great technical virtuosity. The rendering of anatomical details is particularly accurate and performed with skill, also considering the small size of the bezel. The rare scene is composed with art inspired by Greek vascular models and symbolically depicts the desire to sculpt one's own effigy following the reflection on the metal shield. Mirror polishing inside the carving. Attractive stone color with small reddish inclusions. Slight wear marks and lack on the edge at the top. English private collection N.M., since 1985.
1st century BC - 1st century AD.