Comprising a square-section hoop with expanding shoulders, each shoulder set with a garnet cabochon and the raised square bezel with an emerald. 6.97 grams, 24.18 mm overall, 15.20 mm internal diameter (approximate size British E 1/2, USA 2 1/2, Europe 3, Japan 3)

Acquired in the late 1980s-early 1990s.
Important North West London collection.

Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.11783-204563.

Cf. Daremberg & Saglio, Dictionnaire des Antiquités Grecques et Romaines, Paris, 1873-1917; similar example in the British Museum, in Marshall, F.H., Dictionnaire Catalogue of the finger rings Greek, Etruscan & Roman in the departments of Antiquities of British Museum, London, 1968 p.189, pl. XXIX, n. 1196; Chadour, A.B., Rings, The Alice and Louis Koch collection, Leeds, 1994, no.332, for a similar type; also nos.428 and 430, for rings with garnet and emeralds.

The presence of emerald suggests that the place of origin of this ring could have been in Roman Egypt, and the good colour of the emerald proposes a dating to the 4th to 5th century A.D.

With D-section shank, ellipsoid stepped bezel, inset sardonyx intaglio dolphin. 5.60 grams, 23.61 mm overall, 20.69 mm internal diameter (approximate size British P, USA 7 1/2, Europe 16.23, Japan 15)

From a late Japanese specialist collector, 1970-2000s.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11859-206976.

Cf. Ruseva-Slokoska, L., Roman Jewellery, Sofia, 1991, item 191, for type.

The dolphin motif is associated with the god Neptune.

The intaglio bearing the bearded head of the god Serapis; gold ring with slender hoop and openwork tripartite shoulders, held in an oval claw setting; stamped '9ct' to the interior. 2.98 grams, 26.40 mm overall, 20.24 mm internal diameter (approximate size British V, USA 10 1/2, Europe 23.77, Japan 22)

Early 20th century collection based on the ring.
Acquired on the London art market.
Property of a North London antiquary.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11861-206034.

The goddess seen from behind, drapery around her legs, resting her left hand on a column and holding up an object in her right hand. 0.84 grams, 12 mm

Acquired in the late 1980s-early 1990s.
Important North West London collection.

Cf. Walters, H.B., Catalogue of Engraved Gems & Cameos, Greek, Etruscan & Roman in the British Museum, London, 1926, no.3859.

The famous statue of Aphrodite Kallipygos, the model for this gemstone, recalls a story reported in the Deipnosophists of Athenaeus regarding the foundation of a temple to her in ancient Syracuse. According to Athenaeus, two beautiful sisters from a farm near Syracuse quarrelled over which of them had the most shapely buttocks, and approached a young passer-by to judge. They showed themselves to the traveller, the son of a rich man, and he voted for the older sister. Later, he fell in love with her and fell ill with lovesickness. Upon learning of what had happened, the man's younger brother went to see the girls and fell in love with the younger sister. Consequently the brothers refused to consider any other brides forcing the father to arrange for the sisters to come and marry them. The townspeople nicknamed the sisters ‘Kallipygoi’ (‘Women with Beautiful Behinds’) and the young men, with their newfound prosperity, dedicated a temple to Aphrodite, naming her ‘Kallipygos’.

Each composed of an ear hoop with hook-and-eye closure, rectangular box setting inlaid with green glass, faux ropework flange, two chain link dangles below featuring pearl beads. 3.15 grams total, 29 mm each

From the collection of a Cambridge lady, 1990s.

With facetted shank and fluted shoulders, rectangular bezel with outer bands and central plaque bearing two lines of impressed points. 5.97 grams, 23.03 mm overall, 16.64 mm internal diameter (approximate size British G, USA 3 1/4, Europe 4.92, Japan 4)

From a late Japanese specialist collector, 1970-2000s.

Cf. Ruseva-Slokoska, L., Roman Jewellery, Sofia, 1991, item 180; Chadour, A.B., Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 272, for type.

Bezel formed as one circular and two piriform gold cells with large granules between and granulation to the rim of each cell; inset garnet cabochons, with later rectangular-section hoop. 2.39 grams, 21.13 mm overall, 16.53 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L 1/2, USA 6, Europe 11.87, Japan 11)

From a late Japanese specialist collector, 1970-2000s.

Cf. Chadour, A.B., Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 119, for type.

Each composed of a slender round-section hoop tapering towards the closure, free-running dangle featuring an emerald green glass bead between gold annular beads. 4.41 grams total, 35-37 mm

From a late Japanese specialist collector, 1970-2000s.

Composed mainly of sheet-gold beads of various types, including biconical, ribbed, doughnut-shaped, filigree and openwork examples, together with other forms, some possibly from India. 19.31 grams total, 3-17 mm

UK gallery, early 2000s.

Modelled in the round with naturalistic detailing to the coat, head and face, with wide collar and standing on a polygonal base. 87 grams, 67 mm

‘The Ancient Menagerie Collection’ formerly the property of a Cambridgeshire lady, collected since the 1990s and acquired from auctions and dealers throughout Europe and the USA, now ex London collection.

Free-standing with stylised features, bulging eyes, hooked beak, pricked ears; piriform base for possible attachment to a helmet crest. 77 grams, 53 mm

‘The Ancient Menagerie Collection’ formerly the property of a Cambridgeshire lady, collected since the 1990s and acquired from auctions and dealers throughout Europe and the USA, now ex London collection.

Cf. Mitten and Doeringer, Master Bronzes From The Classical World, New York, 1968, item 286, for a similar griffin head.

A duck or other water bird with suspension loop to back for suspension from a tintinnabulum. 53.7 grams, 48 mm

‘The Ancient Menagerie Collection’ formerly the property of a Cambridgeshire lady, collected since the 1990s and acquired from auctions and dealers throughout Europe and the USA, now ex London collection.