Frieze fragment with bust of a male in animated pose, head tilted upwards and eyes wide open; the hair executed in successive curly waves around the thick brow, the broad nose merging into the small open mouth; short curly beard on the neck but face clean-shaven; with steel mounting rod beneath. 9.85 kg, 31 cm

Private collection of a sculptor, Munich; acquired in the 1970s on the Munich art market (Ohlendorf).

Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate no.S00044779.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12478-228802.
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.

For similar sculptures see Bianchi Bandinelli, R., Roma, la fine dell'arte antica, Milano, 1970, figs.2, 14; Castagnoli, F., Il Vaticano nell’Antichità Classica, Roma, 1992, pl.L, p.214, figs.97-99.

The subject seems to be a retainer of military commanders, usually represented on their sarcophagi in wild hunting parties where men, lions and boars fight. It is highly probable that the head was originally from a massive sarcophagus of a general, like the one in Palazzo Mattei in Rome.

Modelled standing nude in contrapposto stance, wearing a mantle draped to the left shoulder and secured at the right, wearing winged petasos cap, standing on a rectangular base. 89.8 grams, 95 mm

UK private collection before 2000.
Acquired on the UK art market.
Property of a London gentleman.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

See Rolland, H., Bronzes Antiques de Haute Provence, Paris, 1965, items 27, 30, for type.

Amuletic fascinum formed as a crescent with phallus to the right, hand in the fica gesture to the left and male genitals below; each with a loop beneath for attachment of another pendant; large loop above and attachment strap with stud. 81.5 grams, 68 mm

Acquired in Europe in 1990s.
European private collection.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Cf. Beutler, F. et al., Der Adler Roms. Carnuntum und der Armee der Cäsaren, Bad-Deutsch Altenberg, 2017, item 768, for type.

Standing nude with a wreath resting on his head, hair and beard forming a dense mass of curls; naturalistic facial detailing, long and slender muscular torso, depicting a harmonious anatomy with sharp divisions of the abdominal muscles; right arm lowered, once holding a thunderbolt, the left arm raised; a small cloak draped around the torso; an eagle with open wings standing beside him; cotton-reel base. 310 grams, 14.5 cm high

Ex German art market, 2000s.
Acquired from an EU collector living in London.
From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman.

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.12467-230459.
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.

Cf. Reinach, S., Répertoire de la statuaire grecque et romaine, Paris, 1897, p.7, nos.1,3; 8 no.3, for the type; Rolland, H., Bronzes Antiques de Haute Provence, XVIII supplément à ‘Gallia’, Paris, 1965, nos.3-6, for similar.

Exhibited at the Harwich Museum, Harwich, Essex, UK, 21st January-10th March 2025; accompanied by a copy of a photograph of the artefacts on display.

This small bronze may have served as a devotional image in a personal shrine or used as votive object offered as dedication to the god.

Bust and torso of an indigenous nobleman modelled in the round; with rounded facial features, the shoulder-length hair dressed in hanks and cut into tiers, centre-parted and framing the face; the eyes exaggerated, probably originally emphasised with sheet-silver detailing; the broad chest smooth with ring-and-dot nipples; a thick collar or torc sitting high on the collar-bone, with braided detailing and finished with a D-shaped pendant; each upper-arm supported by a barley-twist column with cup finial and stylised flames above; the centre supported by a rectangular block with incised herringbone linear pattern interspersed with pointillé pellets; the base broad and gently curved away from the figure, with a lattice of bilinear panels bearing groups of three ring-and-dot motifs, D-shaped loop to the forward edge flanked by smaller lobes; the reverse plain, the head hollow with remains of a thick loop at the lower edge of the hair; significant iron deposits to surface from its deposition environment; of provincial Roman workmanship. 461 grams, 13 cm

From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000.
From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

See Boucher, S. & Tassinari, S., Musée de la Civilisation Gallo-Romaine a Lyon: Bronzes Antiques I. Inscriptions, Statuaire, Vaisselle, Lyon, 1976.

Its construction with a central block flanked by two short pillars (i.e. leaving two slots) suggests that the piece may have been intended as a rein-guide for a chariot, whereby the leather or fabric straps would pass through the two apertures and, by their separation, be prevented from tangling. Bronze figural busts are known from Gallo-Roman contexts: they are usually female and interpreted as tutelae or protective tribal spirits (Boucher & Tassinari, 1976, items 62-4). The present example is evidently designed to impress the viewer with its portrayal of the 'noble barbarian' as a suitable conveyor of martial splendour (Boucher & Tassinari, 1976, item 321). The impressive figure recalls the famed statue 'The Dying Gaul' in the Capitoline Museum, Rome, showing a 'barbarian' warrior with a neck torc, thick hair and moustache, discarded weapons and shield carved on the ground and a carnyx trumpet between his legs. The statue is a copy of a Hellenistic original celebrating a Greek victory over the Galatians.

Pricket formed as a baboon crouching on a tiered base with bun feet; the animal wearing a pounced hood with tall octagonal-section spike above; mounted on a custom-made stand. 95.7 grams total, 99 mm including stand

From a Cambridgeshire, UK, collection, 1990s.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Cf. similar baboon figure in the Metropolitan Museum of Art under object number: 30.8.348.

Carved in the round with detailed layered hairstyle swept back from the temples, broad brow with defined furrows, deep-set eyes, flat nose and small puckered mouth; provincial workmanship; mounted on a custom-made stand. 4.32 kg total, 27.2 cm including stand

Friedlinger-Brandt, circa 1950-1960, ambassador in Cairo before 1920.
Thereafter, Münzen und Medaillen AG, Basel, 1960-1970.

Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate no.S00064834.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

The generally puffy and rounded appearance of the features and the copious hair suggest that the subject is not a human male but rather a putto or possibly the deity Cupid himself.

With broad shoulder and volute scrolls above the nozzle, discus with low-relief erotic scene. 79.4 grams, 11.2 cm

Ex Madame Suzanne Gozlan by descent.
Madame Suzanne Gozlan (1921-2022), Doctor in History and Archaeology, professor at the Ecole Normale d'Instituteurs de Chartres and lecturer at the University of Paris 4 Sorbonne.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Slightly dished tondo with raised rim, arched handle attached by means of two holes and eyelets; decorated with a series of concentric rings. 128 grams, 12.1 cm

Ex Herbert A. Cahn, Basel, 1990s.

Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate no.S00114086,S00034843.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Cf. British Museum accession no.1888,1022.1, for a more elaborate example of the type.

Exhibited at the Harwich Museum, Harwich, Essex, UK, 21st January-10th March 2025; accompanied by a copy of a photograph of the artefacts on display.

Mirrors of this type were often composed of two discs hinged together so they could be shut to protect the reflective surfaces on the inside.

Tripod base formed with lion-paw feet and rosette of interstitial panels, balustered stem and dished pan, central mounting spike; vertical spike handle to base. 330 grams, 19 cm

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.

Discoid body with sunken discus with bas-relief scene of a gladiator in combat with gladius poised and scutum raised above his head, D-shaped nozzle with volutes; supplied with a custom-made stand. 167 grams total, 19 cm including stand (lamp 11.6 cm)

Ex Axel Guttmann collection of ancient arms and armour, Germany (1944-2001).
Axel Guttmann collection of ancient arms and armour, part 2, Christie's London, 28 April 2004, no.178 (part).
Acquired by the present owner at the above sale.

Accompanied by a copy of the Christie's lot listing.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12235-222198.
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.

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

With thick circular rim, openwork design with median perching eagle on a column, head turned, flanked by a laurel frond and vexillum; two attachment studs to reverse. 41.6 grams, 55 mm

UK private collection before 2000.
Acquired on the UK art market.
Property of a London gentleman.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

See Bishop, M.C., Coulston, J.C.N., Roman Military Equipment, from the Punic Wars to the Fall of Rome, London, 2006, figs. 9,10, for decorative baldric appliqués.