Matched pair, each with a nude female standing on a tiered base with hands on her hips, rosette above her head. 7.59 grams total, 29 mm each



Acquired before 1983. Ex London gallery, 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Broad hoop with cell to the plaque, inset cameo with profile female bust; possibly of the Empress Faustina the younger. 3.83 grams, 19.98 mm overall, 17.95 mm internal diameter (approximate size British I 1/2, USA 4 1/2, Europe 8.07, Japan 7)



Acquired from Notaras Coins & Antiquities, Suffolk, UK, before 2000. Property of a Bedfordshire, UK, private collector. Accompanied by a previous illustrated catalogue slip. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

D-section hoop developing to segmented shoulders with gently curved plaque bearing scroll detailing; with a later central cell with carnelian cloison, opposed busts of Sol and Luna. 39.01 grams, 35.11 mm overall, 24.74 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Z+2 1/2, USA 13 3/4, Europe 32.01, Japan 30)



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Comprising: ellipsoid gold plaque with egg-and-dart scrolled border, articulating ribbed suspension loop; obverse with inset carved shell cameo of Minerva with crested helmet, long hanks of hair, top of tunic at shoulder. 8.29 grams, 39 mm



Acquired in the 1970s. Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, London, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12522-232023. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Hollow-formed with fluting to the shoulders and foliage panel to the underside, plaque with inset garnet cabochon bearing an eagle in three-quarter view gripping a lightning bolt, head turned, laurel wreath in the beak; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 11.80 grams, 30.64 mm overall, 17.06 x 12.36 mm internal diameter (approximate size British F, USA 2 3/4, Europe 3.67, Japan 2 3/4)



From the collection of a deceased lady, 1990s. Ex London, UK, gentleman, 2000s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12523-231876. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

This splendid intaglio of an eagle depicts what Pliny the Elder calls the: ‘most honourable and strongest of all birds’ (Naturalis Historis.10.3.1), and Aelian remarks that it possesses the ‘keenest sight of all birds’ (De natura animalium. 1.42). However, the animal was not revered in antiquity solely out of admiration for its natural attributes, it was esteemed during the Greek, Roman Republican and Imperial times as the bird that held the lightning of the sky god Zeus/Jupiter, whose identifying symbol is the thunderbolt and his primary sacred animal is the eagle. It is also a symbol of Victory, power and immortality, since it is associated with the passage of a deified emperor’s spirit into the world of the immortals. The primary military use of the eagle was as a standard, which comprised of a golden or gilded metal eagle, clutching thunderbolts in its talons, perched atop a long metal pole with a butt-spike for planting in the ground. Both Ovid and Plutarch place the inception of manipular ensigns with Romulus, where bundles (manipuli) of hay were tied to high poles which served as rallying points for units of the army. Eventually, icons of animals replaced these ensigns: the eagle, wolf, Minotaur, horse, and boar. In 107 B.C., Gaius Marius made sweeping military reforms and the Aquila became the sole standard of the legion, which according to (Pliny NH. 10.5.16) ‘By making the Aquila the standard for all legions improved unity and gave soldiers a symbol that expressed their attachment to an all-encompassing body, to which the soldiers’ loyalty could be directed’. Due to its place at the head of each legion, it became the emblem of the Roman legions, which enforced Roman rule in the provinces, giving the eagle its connotation of dominion.

Slender hoop with sharp shoulders, inset carnelian gemstone with intaglio Artemis motif. 3.18 grams, 21.99 mm overall, 19.22 mm internal diameter (approximate size British N 1/2, USA 6 3/4, Europe 14.35, Japan 13)



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

With tapering facetted hoop, plaque with cell and inset carnelian cloison, intaglio figure of Minerva with shield and spear. 7.39 grams, 19.03 mm overall, 16.16 mm internal diameter (approximate size British G, USA 3 1/4, Europe 4.92, Japan 4)



Acquired from Notaras Coins & Antiquities, Suffolk, UK, before 2000. Property of a Bedfordshire, UK, private collector. Accompanied by an illustrated collector's identification tag. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Slender hoop with pairs of granules flanking the ellipsoid cell with inset carnelian intaglio of Diana standing and holding a patera; stone chipped and gold frame extended to compensate. 3.11 grams, 23.25 mm overall, 19.94 mm internal diameter (approximate size British R, USA 8 1/2, Europe 18 3/4, Japan 18)



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Ellipsoid intaglio with large bird perched on a baseline, wings spread as if about to take flight; mounted in a fragment of a ferrous finger ring; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 5.96 grams, 25 mm



From the Fadel family collection, London, UK, 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

With slightly domed upper face, intaglio profile portrait bust, possibly of Empress Vibia Sabina (83-136 A.D.) with her hair draped in a braid above her brow, crescent placed beside her shoulder; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 0.65 grams, 14 mm



From the Fadel family collection, London, UK, 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Ellipsoid in plan with engraved profile bust of Zeus, bearded and with his hair bound by a band tied at the rear; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 1.09 grams, 18 mm



From the Fadel family collection, London, UK, 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Fragment of a ferrous hoop and bezel inset amethyst cabochon with intaglio profile bust of a female wearing the nemes crown, the personification of Alexandria. 3.67 grams, 21 mm



From the Fadel family collection, London, UK, 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.