A Roman Chalcedony Fragment of Ganymede and the Eagle

Circa 1st Century A.D.

Height 1 3/4 inches (4.45 cm).

Provenance:

Private Collection, New York.

Sotheby's, London, Antiquities, 8 July 1993, Lot 219.

Published:

M. Padgett, 'A Chalcedony Statuette of Herakles', in Record of the Art Museum of Princeton University, vol. 54, no. 1, 1995, p. 6, no. 17; pp. 9-10, figs. 10-11.

E. Gagetti, Preziose sculture di età ellenistica e romana, Milan, 2006, p. 390, no. G166, pl. LXII.

D. Del Bufalo, Precious Portraits: Small Precious Stone Sculptures of Imperial Rome, Turin, 2020, pp. 40, 93, no. 128.

The myth of Ganymede, the Trojan youth abducted by Zeus in the guise of an eagle to serve as cupbearer to the gods, was a frequent theme in ancient Greek and Roman art, symbolizing divine beauty and favor. One notable depiction is the marble sculpture at Palazzo Grimani in Venice, capturing the dynamic drama of Ganymede’s ascension entwined in the powerful eagle’s embrace.

This fragmentary statuette, carved from richly colored chalcedony, portrays a similar dynamic interaction between Ganymede and Zeus in his eagle form. Chalcedony, prized in antiquity for its translucence and sourced from regions such as Anatolia, was favored by Rome's elite patrons for detailed mythological scenes. Its diminutive scale suggests it was intended for private appreciation or adornment, reflecting the owner’s cultivated taste and status. The intricate carving, though fragmentary, indicates the skilled workmanship typical of the early Imperial period.

Inspected under UV light and 10x loupe. Mild deposits and encrustations. Some weathering and minor scratches consistent with age. Generally in very fine and attractive condition with excellent preservation of carved details. See additional images.

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Jacob Coley

Senior Vice President, Head of Department, Antiquities and Ancient Art

[email protected]312 280 1212

Mr. Coley joined the Antiquities department in 2021 after working as Managing Director in the Ancient Art department at Colnaghi, the world’s oldest commercial art gallery, where he helped to establish the Ancient Art department and launched Colnaghi New York in 2017. Prior to Colnaghi, Mr. Coley was in the Greek and Roman Art department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Mr. Coley holds a B.A. from the University of Miami and an M.A. in Art Market from the Fashion Institute of Technology, and he earned an art-appraisal certificate from New York University.

Jewelry Through the Ages: Ancient to Neoclassical

A Roman Chalcedony Fragment of Ganymede and the Eagle

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