A ROMAN MARBLE CINERARY URN
Lot 174

A ROMAN MARBLE CINERARY URN

CIRCA LATE 1ST CENTURY A.D.

Closed24 April 2013

Price Realised

USD 15,000

More Information

How to sell

A ROMAN MARBLE CINERARY URN
CIRCA LATE 1ST CENTURY A.D.
Rectangular in form, the front carved in high relief, with an inscribed square panel flanked by two nude cupids, each lunging outward, looking back and supporting a draped foliate garland over his shoulder, a winged sphinx perched above, the sides each carved in shallow relief with an olive tree, an egret-like bird eating the fruit, the front panel with an eight line inscription in Latin, reading: "For the spirits of the dead, their daughter Catonia Iusta made [this] for her mother Baebia Satyra and her father M[arcus] Catonius Threptus, most pious and indulgent [parents]"
12 in. (34 cm.) high

John M. Quinn; Sotheby's, New York, 29 November 1989, lot 133.
Dr. Roy Ysla; Christie's, New York, 9 December 1999, lot 330.

Specialist note

For a similar example see no. 130, pl. 32 in Sinn, Stadtrömische Marmorurnen.