A Roman Marble Strigillated Lion Breakfast Sarcophagus, Rome, with 18th Century Restorations, circa 260-280 A.D.

the ancient figural relief fragments carefully cut out and inserted into each front corner of a fully restored sarcophagus, each lion boldly carved pinning its prey down, one a quadruped, the other a wild boar, and looking back with fierce expression and gaping jaws, a tree behind each of them, the strigillations centering a mandorla carved in low relief with an amphora.

Italian private collection, circa 18th Century (based on restoration techniques)
Dr. Antoine Cloëtta, Switzerland, acquired in the 1950s
by descent to the previous owners until 2014, when acquired by the present owner

Two iron clamps missing at each end. Two stress cracks across strigillation in front, one reinforced with an iron clamp along the upper edge. Surface somewhat weathered. Please note holes in many places, including: across the corners, in the back. Central channel running along the bottom and edges. One large-drain hole at the bottom. Ancient relief on the left side broken in back across the hunch of the lion. Tail of the lion is restored with the rest of strigillation on the side. The surface is more weathered than the rest of the Rust stains from the iron clamps. Right relief in the same condition, also with repair of the lower part. General very good condition of both reliefs.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

For a related example in the Museo Nazionale Romano, Museo delle Terme, inv. no. 121540, see A. Giuliano, ed., Museo Nazionale Romano. Le Sculture , vol. I,7, 1984, p. 330ff., no. X, 38, and Jutta Stroszeck, Löwen-Sarkophage (Die antiken Sarkophag-Reliefs, vol. VI.6 ), 1998, no. 296, pls. 58.1 and 59.1 (http://arachne.uni-koeln.de/item/objekt/38086).

For other lion breakfast sarcophagi see Sotheby's, New York, June 7th, 2007, no. 78, December 5th, 2017, no. 83, September 30th, 2011, no. 225, and December 6th, 2012, no. 37.