Comprising a repoussé panel with the nude hero wearing a mantle and killing the beast, a palm of victory underneath his feet, a dog attacking the lion from above, foliage around the scene; two fixing studs to the reverse; accompanied by a frame. 234 grams total, 53 x 37 mm (13 x 13 cm including frame)

Acquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.

See Sommer, M., Die Gürtel und Gürtelbeschläge des 4. und 5. Jahrhunderts im römischen Reich, Bonner Hefte zur Vorgeschichte, 22, Bonn, 1980 (1984), pl.54, 11, for similar; see also The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Romans and Barbarians, Boston, 1976, p.75, no.107.

The belt fitting finds parallels with belt parts from Asia Minor, today in the British Museum, inv. EC 252-254. These kind of plates, decorative and engraved with classical scenes, can possibly be dated to the age of Theodosius I. The quality of decoration can support the thesis that they belonged to the officers of the Comitatus (the Imperial mobile army).

Each formed as a figure-of-eight-shaped plaque with beaded edge and central bridge, bronze reinforcement to the reverse and ferrous attachment pin. 71.3 grams total, 15-15.2 cmFine condition, edge chipped.

Acquired on the European art market in the 1990s.
Ex property of a Suffolk collector.

Comprising scalloped outer faces, shallow dashed borders framing scrolling vines with gilt leaves to one face and horizontal bar of conjoined ellipses with pelta finial and pecked borders to the other, also with gilt elements. 39.8 grams total, 64-65 mm

Ex German art market in the late 1990s.

The naturalistic pale yellow sapphire engraved with the bust of the emperor in profile right. 4.93 grams, 24 mm

Acquired in the 1980s.
Ex European collection.
Private collection of a London antiquarian.

The reign of Commodus (177-192 A.D.) is typically associated with the end of the period in Roman history, the golden era of peace. He initially reigned jointly with his father Marcus Aurelius (177-180 A.D.), and later alone. Commodus cultivated a personality cult which culminated in his performance as a gladiator in the Colosseum. He was eventually assassinated by a wrestler in the baths, marking the end of the Nerva-Antonine Dynasty. He was succeeded by Pertinax.

Once forming a part of a ring carved from a single piece of carnelian, polished and displaying the mythical creature advancing left on a groundline; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. 0.99 grams, 15 mm

UK private collection before 2000.
UK art market.
Property of a London gentleman.

The male figure shown nude with his hands held in front of his genitals, depicted with beard and stylised facial features; remains of suspension loop above. 1.08 grams, 16 mm

UK private collection before 2000.
UK art market.
Property of a London gentleman.

Each composed of a central slender hoop flanked by a single strand of decoratively twisted filigree wire, domed plaque to upper body, granulated bulbs below. 3.84 grams total, 33 mm each

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

Cf. The British Museum, museum numbers 1981,0905.16 and 1981,0905.15, for comparable examples; cf. The Metropolitan Museum, accession numbers 74.51.3257 and 74.51.3746, for comparable.

Composed of a broad, flat-section hoop and a rectangular bezel displaying a high-relief bust of a lady in profile right. 6.15 grams, 18.78 mm overall, 16.51 mm internal diameter (approximate size British K 1/2, USA 5 1/2, Europe 10.58, Japan 10)

Acquired in the 1970s.
From a deceased lady’s estate, by descent.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.202900.

Cf. Chadour, A.B., Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 313; for similar Isis iconography on a ring see Schmidtová, J., Daňová, M., Šefčáková, A., 'New finds of roman rings from a rich grave in Cemetery III, Rusovce‑Gerulata,' in Studia Hercynia, XX/1, pp.83-99, pl.5/7.

In 2014, a grave of a woman was discovered in Gerulata cemetery III, containing an unusual number of rings. The buried woman, aged 40-49, had two rings on each hand, one of which was a signet ring with a gem depicting the Egyptian deities Serapis and Isis, whose hairstyle and profile are identical to the present ring. Although, the bust of Isis is opposed to Serapis in the rings, the cult of the goddess was widespread inside the provinces already in the 1st century A.D.

Bifid hoop expanding to ellipsoid cells, each with an inset garnet cloison, intaglio clasped-hands and chalice(?) motifs. 6.46 grams, 21.57 mm overall, 18.72 mm internal diameter (approximate size British I 1/2, USA 4 1/2, Europe 7.44, Japan 7)

Acquired on the German art market around 2000.
From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

Cf. Chadour, A.B., Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 191, for type.

Openwork heart-shaped shoulders and reef-knot to the underside, ellipsoid cell with inset cameo. 5.03 grams, 20.13 mm overall, 15.77 mm internal diameter (approximate size British G 1/2, USA 3 1/2, Europe 5.55, Japan 5)

Acquired in the 1980s.
American private collection.
with Bonhams, London, 23 October 2013, lot 163.

Accompanied by a previous dealer's catalogue and price card (£3,750.00).
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.203078.

Cf. Chadour, A.B., Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 208, for type.

Composed of a lentoid-section hoop expanding at the shoulders to an oval bezel set with a garnet intaglio gemstone depicting a bearded male bust facing left, wearing an earring and pendant necklace. 9.61 grams, 27.60 mm overall, 15.39 mm internal diameter (approximate size British H 1/2, USA 4, Europe 6.81, Japan 6)

Private collection.

Accompanied by an expert report by Dr Jack Ogden, 9 June 2017.

The chrysoprase gemstone with intaglio Venus seated beside a tree, altar and miniature Victory before her; mounted in a later gold ring; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. 12.04 grams, 24.22 mm overall, 20.19 mm internal diameter (approximate size British T, USA 9 1/2, Europe 21.26, Japan 20)

Ex property of a London gentleman; acquired London art market, 1970-1980.

Cf. gemstone in the Royal Collection, later remounted as a pendant, under accession number RCIN 65741.