CINEMA CUTTING TANK Roman art, mid 2nd century White... Lot 2

CINEMA CUTTING TANK Roman art, mid 2nd century White marble; restorations on the back and on the snout of the left ram's head. Dim_ 28 x 35 x 25 cm Provenance Massimo Giustiniani Collection, 19th century Private collection of Mr X. (1931-2017) dispersed to the benefit of the Red Cross Monegasque Red Cross Publication The inscription of this urn appears in the Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum, vol.VI, p.IV,1894, n°2585 A ROMAN MARBLE CINERARY URN WITH LATIN INSCRIPTIONS, CIRCA MID 2ND CENTURY A.D. 11 x 14 x 10 in. Dim Of rectangular form, the frontal panel carved with a recessed inscribed tabula framed by a garland of leaves and fruits suspended from ram heads at the corners, two birds peacking at a central fruit. An eagle in each lower corner. The base decorated with carved leaves motifs, the inscription reading "D.M PVBLILIA CHRYSIS SIBI ET PVBLILIO COSMO COLLIBERTO BENEMERENTI POSVIT" (To the Spirits of the Departed, to Publio Cosmo released, Publia Chrysia, (made it ) for her and her deserving husband). Rectangular in shape, the slightly sunken central cornice is engraved with a Latin inscription and framed by a cornice in relief. Below, a large garland of leaves and fruit attached to the upper corners by a ram's head. In the centre, two birds are pecking at a fruit. At each lower corner, an eagle, its head turned towards the garland. The inscription reads "D.M PVBLILIA CHRYSIS SIBI ET PVBLILIO COSMO COLLIBERTO BENEMERENTI POSVIT" (To the gods, for Publio Cosmo freed, Publia Chrysia (did it for her) and her well deserving husband). This cinerary urn thus collected the ashes of two lovers, who wished to remain together for eternity