Perugian Peacock Sarcophagus with Cross

Sculpture

-

Hammond Castle Museum

Name/Title

Perugian Peacock Sarcophagus with Cross

Entry/Object ID

HM-290

Tags

Pacifici purchase

Description

Peacock Sarcophagus cross & peacocks in low relief, cross in center and on either side peacocks drinking from chalices Reportedly 5th-6th c. and discovered in Ravenna, Italy, ca 250 A.D. referred to as the Perugian sarcophagus in correspondence Possibly 1920s re-carving Originally displayed in 1st Tower gallery, but moved by Hammond to "Terrace Room" (now office) 1928 Pacifici purchase 2023 - Dr. Robert Cohon's Paper - "Gloucester-Provenance-Ancient Art" "This is also known as the Perugia Sarcophagus. In the first mention of the sarcophagus, Amando Pacifici writes to Hammond on December 24, 1928 - Document 1928-12-24 Letter from Armando Pacifici (sarcophagus, Perugia, Piraino) Pacifici follows up on February 4, 1929 (Document 1929-02-04 from Armando Pacifici (Stein Charges, Portals, Roman Window, Cow Head) p(3) [See Pacifici photograph] referred to in the text ... Note the comments on the back: they establish that the Perugia Sarcophagus is the Peacock Sarcophagus. Many years later, in 1937, Hammond commented on it to Francis Taylor (Document 1937-10-21 to Dr. Francis Taylor from JHHJr (sources of tiles and marbles) pg (1) The sarcophagus is mentioned in several shipping documents and the price was reduced from 8000 lire to 5700. *Document 1929-04-04 Armando Pacifici (Bari window, sarcophagus, items available) p(3): the sarcophagus is at the warehouse packed. *Document 1929-07-16 W.I. Randall to Armando Pacifici (shipping costs): Perugian sarcophagus boxed and ready for shipment. *Document 1929 ca Armando Pacifici (artifact list and prices) p(5): he sold the sarcophagus for 5700 lire (300 dollars). *Document 1929 ca Armando Pacifici (artifact lists and prices) p(7): again, 5700 lire and listed as still being in Rome. *Numerous photographs of the sarcophagus 1st Tower, dated 1950-1965 At a certain point, it is removed from its supports and becomes a planter. See [photo] HM Peacock Sarcophagus with Cross and Animals Drinking (1) [photo] HM Peacock Sarcophagus with Cross and Animals Drinking (2) Note the different places it had been moved to, a fall from grace. Possible additional references to the Peacock/Perugia Sarcophagus [1930 ca invoice of 18 cases (dealers - Limiti, Della Seta, Primoli, Della Marra, Vita, Piraino) previously mis-identified 1929 ca]: A marble sarcophagus of the 6th century valued at 5500 lire and acquired from Luigi Limiti of Rome appears nowhere else in the known documents. There is no “extra” sarcophagus at Hammond Castle. The Peacock/Perugia Sarcophagus was originally dated Romanic 11th century; the Limiti sarcophagus dates 6th century, but I am uncertain how speculative the datings (for a modern forgery) were; quite possibly medieval was the word they wanted. The Limiti sarcophagus was valued at 5700 lire; 200 lire is not such a substantial difference in the context of 5000+ lire. Pacifici first offers the Peacock/Perugia sarcophagus to Hammond in December 24, 1928 and offers it again on February 4, 1929. The date of purchase from Limiti in the above document is March 1929. The dates line up neatly. Furthermore, the document mentions “sarcophagus feets” of the 15th century. Pacifici offered for 1000 lire “susteners” with the Peacock/Perugia sarcophagus and columnar supports appear in early photographs of that sarcophagus at Hammond Castle. It is probable that the Limiti sarcophagus is the Perugia/Peacock sarcophagus. Document 1929-07-23 from D C Andrew (shipping window, sarcophagus) p (2) probably refers to the Perugia sarcophagus and its supports. Document 1929-05-12 from Pacifici (Bari window, columns, sarcophagus shipping) lists “sarcophagus inscriptions urn 3000” as a price estimate for shipping. The document appears to refer to the above shipment and thus includes the Peacock/Perugia Sarcophagus. Document 1929-06-02 [corrected to 1929-06-29] to A. J. Kelley + D. C. Andrews _ Co. to H. P. Benton (shipping) refers to the same shipment as in Document 1929-05-12 Document 1929-08-29 from C. Stein (Shipping Pacifici items, 13 cases, sarcophagus, Cippo cenerarie) also appears to refer to this shipment. Document 1930-07-21 from C Stein (Pacifici, marble tombs, SS Exton shipping) p(1), This is the same shipment as above and probably therefore the Peacock/Perugia Sarcophagus Note on the issue of camouflage In Document 1928-12-24 Letter from Armando Pacifici (sarcophagus, Perugia, Piraino), which is copied above, Pacifici records that he is going to camouflage the sarcophagus to facilitate its export. No details are given and in fact he may never have camouflaged it, seeking only to suggest to Hammond its great value by doing so. Alternatively, he may have. The interior is divided into three sections separated by concrete walls that open to each other with metal arched openings near the bottom. This may be the camouflage; alternatively, this may have been done at Hammond Castle.

Collection

Sculpture

Acquisition

Accession

290

Source (if not Accessioned)

Amando Pacifici

Made/Created

Place

Location

Roman

Notes

Date: ca. 5th-6th c.

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Sarcophagus

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Container, Funerary

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Funerary Objects

Nomenclature Class

Ceremonial Objects

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Provenance

Notes

Arnaldo Pacifici February 1928 3000 lire ($157.89 in 1930, $2,553.84 in 2021)

General Notes

Note Type

1977 Hammond Castle Souvenir Guidebk by N R Kline, J J Bolten (18)

Note Type

1966 Corinne Witham Guidebook (51)

Note Type

2023-08-07 Cohon - Gloucester-Provenance-Ancient Art

Note Type

1928-12-24 from Armando Pacifici (sarcophagus, Perugia, Piraino, Bari)

Note Type

1937-10-21 to Dr Francis Taylor (sources of tile & marbles), pg (1-3)

Note Type

1929-02-04 from Armando Pacifici (Stein charges, portals, Roman window, cow head) p(1-4)

Note Type

1929-07-16 to Armando Pacifici (shipping costs)

Note Type

1930 ca invoice of 18 cases (dealers - Limiti, Della Seta, Primoli, Della Marra, Vita, Piraino)

Note Type

1929-07-23 from D C Andrew (shipping window, sarcophagus)

Note Type

1929-05-12 from Pacifici (Bari window, columns, sarcophagus shipping)

Note Type

1929-08-29 from C. Stein (Shipping Pacifici items, 13 cases, sarcophagus, Cippo cenerarie)

Note Type

1930-07-21 from C Stein (Pacifici, marble tombs, SS Exton shipping) p(1-4))

Note Type

1929-04-04 ca from Pacifici (Perugian sarcophagus, marble pieces)

Note Type

2025-07-07 Cohon carving info (Purigian sarcophagus, Bari Window, Bishop's chair)