Explore Collections
You are here:
CollectionsOnline
/
Pilastered double cinerarium
Browse
Pilastered double cinerarium
41-68 AD
Sinn suggests a Claudian-Neronian dating [noting that the inscriptions are not antique]
Sinn suggests a Claudian-Neronian dating [noting that the inscriptions are not antique]
Pentelic marble
Height: 55cm
Height (excluding restorations): 29.5cm
Width (lid): 50cm
Height (excluding restorations): 29.5cm
Width (lid): 50cm
Inscription: 1) (LH side): D. M. / ANTONIAE / AQVILLAE / CONIVGI
D[is] M[anibus] Antoniae Aquillae coniugi
2) (RH side): D. M. / L. AVIL. DYONISI / VS. FECIT
D[is] M[anibus] L[ucius] Avil[us] Dyonisius fecit
Inscription marks: 1) Line 1: 10-12mm; Line 2: 11-14mm; Line 3: 12-15mm; Line 4: 11-12mm.
2) Line 1: 15mm; Line 2: 13-14mm; Line 3: 13mm.
Inscription note: 1) Lines 1 and 2: ligature AE.
Line 4: the first N of ANTONIAE is reversed.
2) Line 2: N is reversed.
Corpus Inscriptionum Latinum (CIL) doubts the authenticity of this inscription.
We are grateful to Dr. Charlotte Tupman, a scholar of epigraphy (the study of inscriptions) undertaking postdoctoral research at King’s College London, who took squeezes of the inscriptions on antiquities in the Museum in 2007, for her transliteration, translation and notes/bibliography of the inscription on this piece.
Inscription translation: 1) To the spirits of the departed. To Antonia Aquilla (his/my) wife.
2) To the spirits of the departed. Lucius Dyonisius set it up.
D[is] M[anibus] Antoniae Aquillae coniugi
2) (RH side): D. M. / L. AVIL. DYONISI / VS. FECIT
D[is] M[anibus] L[ucius] Avil[us] Dyonisius fecit
Inscription marks: 1) Line 1: 10-12mm; Line 2: 11-14mm; Line 3: 12-15mm; Line 4: 11-12mm.
2) Line 1: 15mm; Line 2: 13-14mm; Line 3: 13mm.
Inscription note: 1) Lines 1 and 2: ligature AE.
Line 4: the first N of ANTONIAE is reversed.
2) Line 2: N is reversed.
Corpus Inscriptionum Latinum (CIL) doubts the authenticity of this inscription.
We are grateful to Dr. Charlotte Tupman, a scholar of epigraphy (the study of inscriptions) undertaking postdoctoral research at King’s College London, who took squeezes of the inscriptions on antiquities in the Museum in 2007, for her transliteration, translation and notes/bibliography of the inscription on this piece.
Inscription translation: 1) To the spirits of the departed. To Antonia Aquilla (his/my) wife.
2) To the spirits of the departed. Lucius Dyonisius set it up.
Museum number: M429
Vermeule catalogue number: Vermeule 323
On display: Basement West Corridor
All spaces are in No. 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields unless identified as in No. 12, Soane's first house.
For tours https://www.soane.org/your-visit
Curatorial note
Beneath an incised-wave fillet moulding at the top of the front, Tuscan pilasters flank and divide a pair of inscribed name plates. Below each is pair of doves on a krater (vase), each flanked by four rosettes. Within a rectangular, pedimented lid flanked by conventional tragic-mask antefixae are single bukranion (ox skulls) supporting two garlands. The lid has a removable dome-like lid with striated ornament and a pinecone knob.
Inscribed:
Left: D.M. Right: D. D
ANTONIÆ L AVIL· DYONISI-
AQVILIÆ VS · FECIT
As the provenance indicates and as confirmed by Professor Glenys Davies (visit to the museum and inspection of the urn 1988) this urn was assembled by the Piranesi workshop. Only the middle section is antique (not the inscriptions). The sides, lid and base are made to Piranesi's design, as illustrated in G.B. Piranesi, Vasi, candelabri, cippi, sarcofagi tripodi, lucerne, ed ornamenti antichi, fol, Rome, 1779, pl. 5.
Soane made extensive purchases of antiquities at sales in 1801 and 1802, the pieces destined for his new country house at Pitzhanger Manor, Ealing, then under construction. This urn is shown in J.M. Gandy watercolour design for the library at Pitzhanger Manor (SM P94) in which the cinerary vase Soane M838/Vermeule 344 sits on top of it, in place of the round lid.
Inscribed:
Left: D.M. Right: D. D
ANTONIÆ L AVIL· DYONISI-
AQVILIÆ VS · FECIT
As the provenance indicates and as confirmed by Professor Glenys Davies (visit to the museum and inspection of the urn 1988) this urn was assembled by the Piranesi workshop. Only the middle section is antique (not the inscriptions). The sides, lid and base are made to Piranesi's design, as illustrated in G.B. Piranesi, Vasi, candelabri, cippi, sarcofagi tripodi, lucerne, ed ornamenti antichi, fol, Rome, 1779, pl. 5.
Soane made extensive purchases of antiquities at sales in 1801 and 1802, the pieces destined for his new country house at Pitzhanger Manor, Ealing, then under construction. This urn is shown in J.M. Gandy watercolour design for the library at Pitzhanger Manor (SM P94) in which the cinerary vase Soane M838/Vermeule 344 sits on top of it, in place of the round lid.
Provenance
From the collections of Cavaceppi, Dealer-Restorer-Sculptor, and G.B. Piranesi, in Rome; said to have been found in the ancient cemetery of Siena. Purchased by Soane at Lord Bessborough's Sale, Christie's, 7 April 1801, Lot 71 (in the Mansion / from the Catacombs) 'A very beautiful square ditto [cinerary urn] wtih masks, festoons etc. etc. This and the preceding are engraved by Piranesi', £42.0.0.
Literature
G.B. Piranesi, Vasi, candelabri, cippi, sarcofagi tripodi, lucerne, ed ornamenti antichi, fol, Rome, 1779, pl.5.; in this engraving the inscription has been regularised and the details elaborated as was the custom in Piranesi's reproductions.
Description of Sir John Soane's Museum (guidebook), 1930, p.72.
F. Sinn, Römische Marmorurnen, No. 157, p. 131.
Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum (CIL) VI 5, 3636*
Description of Sir John Soane's Museum (guidebook), 1930, p.72.
F. Sinn, Römische Marmorurnen, No. 157, p. 131.
Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum (CIL) VI 5, 3636*
Soane collections online is being continually updated. If you wish to find out more or if you have any further information about this object please contact us: worksofart@soane.org.uk