Polished and incised with semi-naturalistic anatomical detailing; intaglio to base displaying archer's bow and quiver; drilled for suspension. 2.54 grams, 15 mm

Acquired 1969-1999.
From the private collection of the late Mr S.M., London, UK, thence by descent.

Each composed of a penannular body with stylised snake head terminals; each accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 52.4 grams total, 64 mm each (119 grams total, 82 mm high including stand)

UK art market, 2000s.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by searcher certificate no. 201181.

Cf. Constantinescu, B., Bugoi, R., Cojocaru, V., Niculescu, Gh., Oberlaender–Tarnoveanu, E., Radtke, M., 'The Sarmizegetusa bracelets' in Antiquity, 84 (326), p.1028–1042, fig.8.

The bracelets belong to the type with zoomorphic terminals, probably representing snake’s heads or dragons emerging from flat rectangular strips with incised decoration and continued as lobed bodies resembling stylised palm leaves or palmettes. This Thracian tradition is attested in the ancient kingdom of Dacia.

Comprising a tetradrachm coin of Alexander III of Macedonia depicting his profile bust right wearing a lion-skin and, to the reverse, Zeus, seated left holding an eagle; set in a surround with hinge and catch affixed to the reverse. 22.03 grams, 33 mm

Acquired 1990s-early 2000s.
East Anglian private collection.

Each composed of a tiered discoid head with polished garnet inlays in claw settings, filigree to the outer perimeter, tapering hook to reverse and three dangles below, the central one formed as an amphora with scrolled handles, three polished garnet cabochons to the equator and a garnet bead to base; flanked by two lotus or bud-shaped charms on short lengths of chain. 14.28 grams total, 52-57 mm

Acquired 1970-2010.
From the collection of a late Japanese gentleman.

Cf. The Metropolitan Museum, New York, accession number 95.15.203, 95.15.204, for a similar pair dated 2nd century B.C.

Or an attachment, comprising two conjoined conical bosses, each with a central knop and rim with two narrow bands of granulation; to the centre, a delicate granulated lozenge with scrolling details to the upper and lower points; to the reverse, an applied double hook for attachment; Alexandrian. 4.42 grams, 36 mm

UK art market, acquired prior to 1985.

Adorned with repoussé detailing and filigree borders and petals, domed centre with granules and applied scrolls, central corrugated claw set with glass(?); pin lug and catchplate to reverse. 8.74 grams, 40 mm

From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.

Cf. The British Museum, museum number 1872,0604.742, for a similar brooch dated 4th century B.C.

Two large strap handles to the shoulders, rounded underside, flange below the rim; with a custom-made display stand. 8.9 kg total, 66 cm high (91 cm high including stand)

Acquired 1970s onwards.
Private collection of Michael O'Hara, Cambridgeshire, UK.
Ex private collection of Benjamin Hyde-Smith, Hertfordshire, UK.

Two large strap handles to the shoulders, fusiform body, shallow flange below the rim; with a custom-made display stand. 8.35 kg total, 64.5 cm high (91.5 cm high including stand)

Acquired 1970s onwards.
Private collection of Michael O'Hara, Cambridgeshire, UK.
Ex private collection of Benjamin Hyde-Smith, Hertfordshire, UK.

Hollow-formed with long nozzle extending from the fleshy mouth, crown of foliage; smaller nozzle and filler-hole to the brow; raised ring to the base; a theatre mask or face of Silenus. 24.3 grams, 72 mm

Acquired 1960s-1990s.
From the late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.

Cf. Bussière, J., Lindros Wohl, B., Ancient Lamps in the J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu, 2017, p.435 and 440, nos.594, 602-603, for similar specimens.

Lamps with figurines first appeared in the Hellenistic period, possibly originating in Athens. Found in all parts of the Mediterranean basin, they were particularly popular during the first and second centuries A.D. The Silenus face types were linked to the Bacchic cult. The crown of leaves and fruit across the forehead alludes to Bacchus or one of his followers.

Composed of a discoid body with sunken discus bearing a scene of two gladiators in combat in relief, tabula ansata below, ring handle and roughly D-shaped nozzle with volutes; old crack to base. 84 grams, 12.4 cm

From a German collection.
Ex Cambridge, UK, collection, 1980s.

Cf. Gilbert, F., Devenir Gladiateur, la vie quotidienne á l'ecole de la mort, La Capelle-Marival, 2013, pp.30-31, for similar lucernae.

The two gladiators seem to wear the armaturae of murmillones. All gladiators began their career as provocatores; the learning of their combat technique was polyvalent and allowed the fighters to specialise as a large shield-bearer (the scutati) like murmillones, or as a small shield-bearers, parmati, like the oplomachus.

Carved in the round with youthful features; large eyes with thickened eyelids, especially the lower lid, well-defined eyebrows forming two long arcs; small mouth with fleshy lips and deep corners; the hair parted at the centre and forming two symmetrical bands of wavy locks leaving the ears uncovered, secured with a ribbon and gathered at the nape of the neck to a small braid with a low hanging knot; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 2.95 kg total, 24.5 cm high including base

19th-20th century collection, based on the stand.
Ex German collection, 1980s.
with HVMC Auctions, Monaco, 12 May 2021, lot 99.

Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Marina Mattei and Dr Laura Maria Vigna.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11761-202174.

Cf. Scarpati, G., Ritratto Femminile, in Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, Le Collezioni, a cura di Carlo Gasparro e Rita, Paris/Milan, 2013, n.131, p.193; Fileri, E., Ritratto Femminile, in Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, Le Collezioni, a cura di Carlo Gasparri e Rita, Paris/Milan, 2013, n.266, p.366.

The arrangement of the hair is characteristic of female portraits of the late Antoninian to early Severan age. The head finds comparisons with a female portrait in the National Roman Museum, depicting an elderly woman of the Antoninian age, and with another female portrait in the National Roman Museum, dated to the third decade of the 3rd century A.D., reworked in the Tetrarchic Period, with the hairstyle falling within the so-called 'Nest Frisur' of the Severan age.

Formed as the bust of Eros looking upwards, stub wings to his shoulders, holding a goose to his chest; conical socket above each wing; eyes with silver inserts; old collector's label '1994 51.75' to the reverse; mounted on a custom-made stand; likely a socket base. 517 grams total, 11.9 cm wide (744 grams total, 14 cm high including stand)

with Sotheby's, London, May 1988, lot 234.
Ex Malter galleries, XLV, 28 May 1991, lot 902.
Ex Bruce A. Kamerling collection.
Acquired from Royal Athena Galleries, New York, 26 June 1994.
The Haggin Museum, Stockton, California.
with Bonhams, Antiquities, 23 May 2012, lot 121.

Cf. Barr-Sharrar, B., The Hellenistic and Early Imperial Decorative Bust, Mainz am Rhein, 1987, items C117, C127, for type.