Provenance Information

This intaglio was first recorded in 1791, and subsequently in the collections of Constantine Alexander Ionides (1833-1900) and his son Alexander Constantine Ionides (1862-1931).

Exhibition Information

Georgia Museum of Art, "Exuberance of Meaning: The Art Patronage of Catherine the Great (1762-1796)." September 21, 2013 - January 5, 2014.

Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, Washington, DC, "Passion of the Empress: Catherine the Great's Art Patronage." February 15, 2014 - June 8, 2014.

Publication Information

J. Tassie and E. Raspe, A Descriptive Catalogue of a General Collection of Ancient and Modern Engraved Gems, Cameos and Intaglio, Taken from the Most Celebrated Cabinets in Europe; and Cast in Coloured Pastes, White Enamel and Sulphur (London 1791) no. 11976; J. Boardman, Engraved Gems: The Ionides Collection (London, 1968) 99 no. 54; G.M.A. Richter, AJA 73 (1969) 488; M-L. Vollenweider, Art Bulletin 53.2 (1971) 241.

Section of the AAMD Guidelines relied upon for the exception to 1970

Cumulative facts and circumstances

Explain why the object fits the exception set forth above

While the intaglio pictured has solid provenance, it is only one object from a collection assembled over his lifetime by Michael J. Shubin, a numismatist based in Los Angeles. The collection comprises several hundred small beads, amulets, mineral specimens as well as intaglios and cameos, ranging from cylinder seals of the third millennium BC to neo-classical creations of the second millennium AD, many of which do not have the provenance of the intaglio pictured. The initial gift was accepted under the guidelines of the 2004 AAMD Report on the Acquisition of Archaeological Materials and Ancient Art as an extraordinary teaching resource. The Museum is committed to photographing and cataloguing the collection.

Provenance Information

1973, sold by Dobkin (possibly Eliahu Dobkin, b. 1898 – d. 1976), Jerusalem to Millicent Jick (b. 1928 – d. 2010), Lexington and Chestnut Hill, MA; 2014, gift of the estate of Millicent Jick to the MFA. (Accession Date: September 24, 2014)

Exhibition Information

None known.

Publication Information

None known.

Section of the AAMD Guidelines relied upon for the exception to 1970

Cumulative facts and circumstances

Explain why the object fits the exception set forth above

The acquisition of this object in Israel pre-dates Israel's Antiquities Law of 1978 as well as Egypt's Law No. 117 of 1983. No legislation is known that would have prevented its export at that time.

Provenance Information

Probably late 1960s or early 1970s, acquired by Millicent Jick (b. 1928 –d. 2010), Lexington and Chestnut Hill, MA; 2014, gift of the estate of Millicent Jick to the MFA. (Accession Date: September 24, 2014)

Exhibition Information

None known.

Publication Information

None known.

Section of the AAMD Guidelines relied upon for the exception to 1970

Informed judgement that works were outside of the country of modern discovery before 1970

Explain why the object fits the exception set forth above

Because Millicent Jick was acquiring other objects in the late 1960s and early 1970s, it is very likely that she bought this at that time. Its acquisition in all likelihood pre-dates Egypt's Law No. 117 of 1983.

Provenance Information

n.d. possibly with Secrett Jewel Salon, Park Plaza Hotel, Toronto; n.d. -1995 collection of Richard J. Salisbury (d. 1995), New Jersey (possibly purchased through Secrett); 1995 estate of Richard J. Salisbury; 1995 - 2008 collection of Jean Salisbury, Vero Beach, FL (acquired through inheritance); 2008 Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (gift of Jean Salisbury)

Exhibition Information

N/A

Publication Information

N/A

Section of the AAMD Guidelines relied upon for the exception to 1970

Cumulative facts and circumstances

Explain why the object fits the exception set forth above

Provenance for this object is established to before 1995, the year of death of the donor. He had purchased it earlier in Toronto, although the date of initial purchase is not known. This object complements our collection, both individually and within the unique context of the larger gift.

Provenance Information

1988 with Bluett & Sons, Ltd., London; 1988 - 1995 collection of Richard J. Salisbury (d. 1995), New Jersey (purchased through Bluett & Sons, Ltd.); 1995 estate of Richard J. Salisbury; 1995 - 2008 collection of Jean Salisbury, Vero Beach, FL (acquired through inheritance); 2008 Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (gift of Jean Salisbury)

Exhibition Information

N/A

Publication Information

N/A

Section of the AAMD Guidelines relied upon for the exception to 1970

Cumulative facts and circumstances

Explain why the object fits the exception set forth above

Provenance for this object is established to at least 1988, in London, where it was sold at auction and purchased directly by the donor. This object complements our collection, both individually and within the unique context of the larger gift.

Provenance Information

1988 with Christie's New York, sale # 6618, lot no. 54; 1988 - 1995 collection of Richard J. Salisbury (d. 1995), New Jersey (purchased through Christie's); 1995 estate of Richard J. Salisbury; 1995 - 2008 collection of Jean Salisbury, Vero Beach, FL (acquired through inheritance); 2008 Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (gift of Jean Salisbury)

Exhibition Information

Christie's, New York, Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, June 3, 1988, sale no. 6618, lot # 57, May 28 - June 2, 1988.

Publication Information

Christie's, New York, Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, June 3, 1988, sale no. 6618 [auction cat.]. (New York: Christie's, 1988); ref. p. 34, color illus. p. 35, lot # 57.

Section of the AAMD Guidelines relied upon for the exception to 1970

Cumulative facts and circumstances

Explain why the object fits the exception set forth above

Provenance for this object is established to at least 1988, in New York, where it was sold at auction and purchased directly by the donor. This object complements our collection, both individually and within the unique context of the larger gift.

Provenance Information

1988 with Christie's New York, sale # 6618, lot no. 54; 1988 - 1995 collection of Richard J. Salisbury (d. 1995), New Jersey (purchased through Christie's); 1995 estate of Richard J. Salisbury;1995 - 2008 collection of Jean Salisbury, Vero Beach, FL (acquired through inheritance); 2008 Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (gift of Jean Salisbury)

Exhibition Information

Christie's, New York, Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, June 3, 1988, sale no. 6618, lot # 54, May 28 - June 2, 1988

Publication Information

Christie's, New York, Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, June 3, 1988, sale no. 6618 [auction cat.]. (New York: Christie's, 1988); ref. p. 32, color illus. p. 33, lot # 54.

Section of the AAMD Guidelines relied upon for the exception to 1970

Cumulative facts and circumstances

Explain why the object fits the exception set forth above

Provenance for this object is established to at least 1988, in New York, where it was sold at auction and purchased directly by the donor. This object complements our collection, both individually and within the unique context of the larger gift.

Provenance Information

1987 with Christie's New York, sale # 6516, lot no. 33 (sold in a lot of 5: 2008.054.006 - .010); 1987 - 1995 collection of Richard J. Salisbury (d. 1995), New Jersey (purchased entire lot of 5 objects through Christie's); 1995 estate of Richard J. Salisbury; 1995 - 2008 collection of Jean Salisbury, Vero Beach, FL (acquired through inheritance); 2008 Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (gift of Jean Salisbury)

Exhibition Information

Christie's, New York, Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, December 10, 1987, sale no. 6516, lot # 33 [lot of 5 objects], December 5 - December 9, 1987.

Publication Information

Christie's, New York, Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, December 10, 1987, sale no. 6516 [auction cat.]. (New York: Christie's, 1987); ref. p. 28, color illus. p. 29, lot # 33 [lot of 5 objects].

Section of the AAMD Guidelines relied upon for the exception to 1970

Cumulative facts and circumstances

Explain why the object fits the exception set forth above

Provenance for this object is established to at least 1987, in New York, where it was sold at auction and purchased directly by the donor. This object complements our collection, both individually and within the unique context of the larger gift.

Provenance Information

1987 with Christie's New York, sale # 6516, lot no. 33 (sold in a lot of 5: 2008.054.006 - .010); 1987 - 1995 collection of Richard J. Salisbury (d. 1995), New Jersey (purchased entire lot of 5 objects through Christie's); 1995 estate of Richard J. Salisbury; 1995 - 2008 collection of Jean Salisbury, Vero Beach, FL (acquired through inheritance); 2008 Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (gift of Jean Salisbury)

Exhibition Information

Christie's, New York, Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, December 10, 1987, sale no. 6516, lot # 33 [lot of 5 objects], December 5 - December 9, 1987.

Publication Information

Christie's, New York, Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, December 10, 1987, sale no. 6516 [auction cat.]. (New York: Christie's, 1987); ref. p. 28, color illus. p. 29, lot # 33 [lot of 5 objects].

Section of the AAMD Guidelines relied upon for the exception to 1970

Cumulative facts and circumstances

Explain why the object fits the exception set forth above

Provenance for this object is established to at least 1987, in New York, where it was sold at auction and purchased directly by the donor. This object complements our collection, both individually and within the unique context of the larger gift.

Provenance Information

1987 with Christie's New York, sale # 6516, lot no. 33 (sold in a lot of 5: 2008.054.006 - .010); 1987 - 1995 collection of Richard J. Salisbury (d. 1995), New Jersey (purchased entire lot of 5 objects through Christie's); 1995 estate of Richard J. Salisbury; 1995 - 2008 collection of Jean Salisbury, Vero Beach, FL (acquired through inheritance); 2008 Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (gift of Jean Salisbury)

Exhibition Information

Christie's, New York, Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, December 10, 1987, sale no. 6516, lot # 33 [lot of 5 objects], December 5 - December 9, 1987

Publication Information

Christie's, New York, Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, December 10, 1987, sale no. 6516 [auction cat.]. (New York: Christie's, 1987); ref. p. 28, color illus. p. 29, lot # 33 [lot of 5 objects].

Section of the AAMD Guidelines relied upon for the exception to 1970

Cumulative facts and circumstances

Explain why the object fits the exception set forth above

Provenance for this object is established to at least 1987, in New York, where it was sold at auction and purchased directly by the donor. This object complements our collection, both individually and within the unique context of the larger gift.