Roman cinerary urn, c.1st century AD
Marble
Dimensions: 33.8 x 32 x 29.5cm
11422 TA
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The front is exuberantly carved in high relief. A framed rectangular plaque bearing an inscription with the name ‘MEMNO’ Memno(n), is flanked by two birds in flight, their wings raised...
The front is exuberantly carved in high relief. A framed rectangular plaque bearing an inscription with the name ‘MEMNO’ Memno(n), is flanked by two birds in flight, their wings raised as they face each other and hold up the ends of a heavy garland of leaves and fruit, with two long ribbons fluttering downwards. The left and right sides are carved with an acanthus calyx, spreading into four symmetrical scrolls, each terminating with a rosette. The lid takes the form of a gabled roof with leaf- shaped tiles, and at the edges are baluster-shaped adornments carved as opening flower buds, the circular ends at the front carved with rosettes, and a pediment in low relief with two birds facing a budding plant. The back of the urn and lid are roughly flattened with a series of short chisel strokes.
A crack runs vertically down the front-centre of the urn and horizontally above the lower edge, various chips throughout, no restoration.
Provenance
Burrell Collection, Ockenden House, Cuckfield, Sussex, UK;
acquired during the early 1700s, thence by descent
Mr J. Fearon, Ockenden House, Cuckfield, Sussex, UK; acquired
during the mid-1800s when Fearon moved into the house,
thence by descent
Private collection, France
Publications
Bonhams, London, UK, Antiquities, 3rd April 2014, lot 70,
where it is noted that “This urn was found and maintained with
cremated remains inside. These remains are due to be excavated,
thoroughly recorded and deposited with Barbican House
Museum of Sussex Archaeology in Lewes (part of the Sussex
Archaeological Society).”
Roger S. O. Tomlin, “Roman Britain in 2013. III. Inscriptions,”
Britannia, vol. 45, 2014, p. 456
Antonella Ferraro, in Lucio Benedetti, Giorgio Crimi, and
Antonella Ferraro, “Antichità vere e false in internet: cinerari iscritti
da siti web di casa d’aste e gallerie d’arte”, Sylloge Epigraphica
Barcinonensis, vol.15 (2017), n.15, pp.98-99, fig.15