Roman, Imperial period, ca. 212 to 217 CE. A beautiful, detailed portrait bust of Emperor Caracalla (ruled from 198 to 217 CE), made from creamy white sardonyx. He is shown wearing a cuirass, his head turned slightly to his right, a laurel wreath in his short hair, with a characteristic short beard, his mustache framing his scowling mouth, and with a heavy brow and creased forehead. His eyes are articulated. The portrait is lifelike, with his deeply furrowed brow reminiscent of other known portraits of this Emperor. Size: 0.85" W x 1.25" H (2.2 cm x 3.2 cm)

Caracalla's portrait reveals his character. Even though he and other emperors of the Severan period tried to tie themselves symbolically to the Antonine emperors who came before to gain legitimacy, he forewent the long locks and thick beards of his predecessors in favor of the shorter military cut. In life, he is remembered as a brutal ruler, one of the worst tyrants of the Roman era, who massacred his own people and favored the military over all other aspects of Roman life. In the 18th century, French artists revived his memory to draw parallels between his tyranny and that of Louis XVI.

Sold at Christie's in 2008 for $5250: https://www.christies.com/Lotfinder/lot_details.aspx?hdnSaleID=21698&LN=300&intsaleid=21698&sid=efa90c2f-93bd-4acb-8401-8a98b9b1a9c0

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Christie's, December 9, 2008, Lot 300; ex-Christie's, New York, 13 Dec 2002, lot 619

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#133272

Tiny chips and nicks on surface commensurate with age but generally in excellent condition with clear details. The undecorated back seems to have had wax on it at some point that has left a tiny amount of residue.