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Roman funerary urn (cinerarium) with a name-plate in the form of a maltese cross and a separate lid.
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Roman funerary urn (cinerarium) with a name-plate in the form of a maltese cross and a separate lid.
Luna marble
Height: 25cm
Height (excluding lid): 17.5cm
Width (lid): 30.5cm
Length (lid): 25cm
Height (excluding lid): 17.5cm
Width (lid): 30.5cm
Length (lid): 25cm
Museum number: M376
Vermeule catalogue number: Vermeule 327
Curatorial note
The front is in the form of a large Maltese cross name plate of broad fillet moulding and recessed lines within a similar outside moulding; there are recessed panels in the corners. It could be described as rather more a tabula ansata than a Maltese cross: there are several other examples of that, see below. The lid has an undecorated pediment between stylised acanthus(?) antefixae.
Inscribed: D M
P· CVRVIO
CRESCENTINO
CONIVGI B· M
For a similar type of moulding in the shape of a Maltese Cross enframing the inscription area, compare Jones, Cap., p.97, no.18, pl.33, which is here, however, a circular urn. For other urnes with an inscription panel in the form of a tabula ansata covering the whole front, F. Sinn, Römische Marmorurnen, No. 157, p. 131., no. 283, pl. 50 d; No. 303, pl. 53 c; 714, pl. 104 f (letzte allerdings erst 4. Jh. n. Chr.) or round ones No 638, pl. 94 d, no. 651, pl. 95 e, no. 654 pl. 95 f.
Inscribed: D M
P· CVRVIO
CRESCENTINO
CONIVGI B· M
For a similar type of moulding in the shape of a Maltese Cross enframing the inscription area, compare Jones, Cap., p.97, no.18, pl.33, which is here, however, a circular urn. For other urnes with an inscription panel in the form of a tabula ansata covering the whole front, F. Sinn, Römische Marmorurnen, No. 157, p. 131., no. 283, pl. 50 d; No. 303, pl. 53 c; 714, pl. 104 f (letzte allerdings erst 4. Jh. n. Chr.) or round ones No 638, pl. 94 d, no. 651, pl. 95 e, no. 654 pl. 95 f.
Provenance
Unrecorded.
If you have any further information about this object, please contact us: worksofart@soane.org.uk