A rare early byzantine-western gothic rock crystal intaglio. Frontal bust of a man.

5th-6th century A.D.

16 x 20 x 3,5 mm

The young character is depicted frontally. The rounded face is characterized by large eyes, an elongated nose and a small mouth; on the sides you can see the ear lobes. The hair is finely parted and executed with short incised marks, also behind the neck. The head is covered with a headdress. The bust is covered by the typical robe with breastplate-armor in the center, depicted with squares with a small spherical element in the center. The setting of the portrait and the style of clothing derives from late Roman iconography (cf. imperial portraits coined on gold solids). A parallel very close to this interesting effigy is the western gothic portrait of Alaricus II, late fifth century (Vienna, kunstihistorisches Museum, inv. VII B 23). The rock crystal intaglio is part of this barbaric production (Kingdom of the Lombards and Goths, probably a private portrait of an aristocrate or prince). Extraordinary transparency and brightness of the crystal, which lets you see the portrait even from the backside of the bezel. Small chips on the edge. Slight signs of wear. Very rare.

Parallel: J. Spier, Late Antique and Early Christian Gems, p. 27 n. 83.

U.K., private collection, London