Zeus-Ammon and Alexander the Great Janus inkwell

Interesting, small, late 19th century Grand Tour Neoclassical Janus type double headed Zeus-Ammon travelling or campaign inkwell, after the antique, with herm heads of the King of the Gods, Zeus and Alexander the Great. Alexander claimed to be the son of Zeus-Ammon. Alexander is depicted with the horns of a ram as featured on tetradrachms minted during his reign. The inkwell is made of a heavy silver coloured white metal which I have been unable to define with a hinged lid with a metal ink pot, set on a tiered Siena marble base. Fascinating item of a type I have not seen before. It is possible the inkwell came of a much larger item and has been remounted. French or Italian, circa 1870.

H 12cm x W 9.5cm x D 9.25cm

SOLD