Not currently on display at the V&A

A Roman Emperor

Bust
19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The bust was in the collection of John Jones, who bequeathed it to the Museum on his death. Inconsistencies in the design of the piece suggest it was probably made in the nineteenth century. The bust of the emperor is generic rather than of a specific ruler, and the carnelian plinth with a lapis plinth is ill-proportioned and illogical in the context of the sculpture.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleA Roman Emperor (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bloodstone, carnelian, lapis-lazuli, ormolu
Brief description
Miniature bust of a Roman emperor, blood-stone (heliotrope), carnelian and lapis lazuli, with an ormulu mount, possibly French, 1800-1882
Physical description
Bust. A male head crowned with laurels, carved in bloodstone (heliotrope) on a carnelian pedestal and lapis-lazuli base, mounted in ormolu.
Dimensions
  • Height: 6in
  • Width: 1.75in
Gallery label
A ROMAN EMPEROR French; late 18th century Bloodstone Jones collection (1993 - 2011)
Credit line
Bequeathed by John Jones
Object history
The bust was in the collection of John Jones, who bequeathed it to the Museum on his death. Inconsistencies in the design of the piece suggest it was probably made in the nineteenth century. The bust of the emperor is generic rather than of a specific ruler, and the carnelian plinth with a lapis plinth is ill-proportioned and illogical in the context of the sculpture.
Subject depicted
Summary
The bust was in the collection of John Jones, who bequeathed it to the Museum on his death. Inconsistencies in the design of the piece suggest it was probably made in the nineteenth century. The bust of the emperor is generic rather than of a specific ruler, and the carnelian plinth with a lapis plinth is ill-proportioned and illogical in the context of the sculpture.
Bibliographic references
  • List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington Museum acquired during the Year 1882. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1883. pp. 79
  • Mitchell, H. P.. [Catalogue entries]. In: Catalogue of the Jones Collection, Part II: Ceramics, Ormolu, Goldsmiths' Work, Enamels, Sculpture, Tapestry, Books, and Prints. London: The Board of Education, 1924.
Collection
Accession number
873-1882

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Record createdJuly 24, 2008
Record URL
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