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Source Image: PR239_01_04 of Sarcophagus of Sosia Herennia of Modena Museo Civico: Sarcophagi

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Description

Left end of the sarcophagus of Sosia Herennia in the Museo Civico, Modena.

Monument
Modena Museo Civico: Sarcophagi 
Monument Part
Sarcophagus of Sosia Herennia 
Monument Type
Sarcophagus 
Material(s)
Prokonnesian Marble (Visual identification)  
Date
post ad 175 - pre ad 300 
Keywords
Relief SarcophagusLid  
Collections
Modena  

Location

Original Location
Modena 
Current Location
Museo Civico, Modena 

Evidence for working practices

1. Toolmarks

Process
Roughing-out
Tool
Point
Method
Angle: Steep (60-70°)
Force: Medium
Description
The panels intended for figured decoration on the end of this sarcophagus have been left roughed-out with the point chisel, presumably for later finishing. The architectural framework between them, meanwhile, has been finished.

2. Clamp socket

Process
Securing
Description
The remains of a clamp socket can be seen between the lid and chest which would originally have held the lid in place to prevent the tomb being looted.

Notes

The fact that the architectural framework and inscription on this sarcophagus have been carved but all the spaces for figurative scenes left roughly worked would seem to indicate a division of labour between multiple carvers with different specialists. Alternatively, if one carver worked on the whole project then they were keen to split their work into defined forms: architecture, inscriptions, figures. On an object this large it is possible that a team of carvers worked on it together, perhaps as many as four.

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