In Roman times cinerary urns were made of a variety of materials, ranging from terracotta and glass to alabaster. Marble was a more prized medium and suggests greater means and discernment on the part of the urn’s patron. An example at Chatsworth (see Boschung, von Hesberg, and Linfert, Die antiken Skulpturen in Chatsworth, Mainz am Rhein, 1997, Cat. No. 84, Plate 74.1-71.2) shows similar vertical tongue decoration, as does an urn at Hever Castle (S. Dimas, C. Reinsberg, and H. von Hesberg, Die Antikensammlungen von Hever Castle, Cliveden, Bignor Park und Knole ,Wiesbaden, 2013, Cat. No. 33a-b, Plate 33). Another example at Petworth House also bears a wreath in a bottom frieze (see Joachim Raeder, Die antiken Skupturen in Petworth House, Mainz am Rhein, 2000, Cat. No. 90, Plate 114 3-5).

The cinerary urn (lot 1) and pedestal (lot 2) photographed in the staircase hall on the first floor at 20 St. James' Square, London, 1938. © 2023 RIBApix.