Short nozzle with lateral volute scrolls, broad discus with concentric circles, central motif of a standing figure in crested helmet and one greave holding a round shield and short sword; probably a scutarius gladiator; incise 'VIL' maker's mark to underside. 103 grams, 10.2 cm

From a private UK collection formed in the 1980s.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

A large quantity of variously sized fragments. 2.81 kg total, 3.1-10.6 cm

Found whilst searching in Devon, Somerset and Wiltshire, UK.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

N.B. This lot is for UK buyers only.

Formed as a fluted column on a square, stepped base; separate poppy-shaped lid; fine cracks to the rim. 14.2 grams, 83 mm

Ex Herbert A. Cahn, Basel, 1990s.

Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate no.S00037854.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Composed of mainly oblate and annular beads; restrung to a Y-shape. 11.9 grams, 38.2 cm

From the London, UK, art market in the 1990s.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Cf. for similar necklaces in blue glass Johns, C., The Jewellery of Roman Britain, Celtic and Classical Traditions, London, 1996, p.100.

Such necklaces testify to the popularity of glass ornaments across the Roman Empire. Roman jewellery at first followed trends set by the Etruscans, using gold and glass beads, but with the extension of the Empire and the adoption of different styles from Greece, Egypt and North Africa, jewellery designs became increasingly various and elaborate. Each bead of this beautiful necklace is unique in shape, lustre and speckling, creating a mosaic like impression. Blue glass beads are distinguished by the scholars in opaque mid-blue and deep translucent cobalt blue.

With broad flange rim, tapering neck and globular body with narrow base. 27 grams, 82 mm

From the private collection of Kenneth Machin (1936-2020), Buckinghamshire, UK; his collection of antiquities and natural history was formed since 1948; thence by descent.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Comprising two parallel tubes with rolled rims, joined at the base; applied handle styled as 'waves', iridescence to the surface. 77 grams, 10.9 cm

Acquired on the European art market in the early 2000s.
with Galerie Rhéa, Zurich, Switzerland.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Comprising a crescentic head with arched bow and leaf-shaped finial displaying the head of Medusa with snakes in her hair in high-relief, surrounded by leaf detailing; bow with stylised vegetal detailing and spur serving as a thumb-pad; repaired. 55.6 grams, 95 mm

Acquired on the UK art market circa 2005.
From an old North Country, UK, collection.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Cf. The Metropolitan Museum, accession number 74.51.5463, for similar.

Composed of mainly oblate and annular beads; restrung. 8.52 grams, 48 cm

From the London, UK, art market in the 1990s.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

For examples of similar black Roman beads see Then-Obluska, J., ‘Beads and pendants from the Hellenistic to early Byzantine Red Sea port of Berenike, Egypt, Seasons 2014 and 2015’ in Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean, 27/1, 2018, pp.203–234, figs. 7 (esp.8,10,11), 8 no.14, 10b no.55.

In the Roman period there was a strong formal and chromatic diversity of glass beads used for necklaces and bracelets. The most common beads in forms were small biconical (lenticular), barrel-shaped, spherical and annular; the most common colours were dark blue, followed by green and yellow. The succession of glass beads often imitates jewellery made of costly materials (gold, silver, semi-precious and precious stones). Green, blue-green, blue, yellow, and black drawn and rounded glass beads (like here) are late Roman types.

A delicate pendant formed from sheet-gold with a loop above. 0.13 grams, 10 mm

From the collection of a late Japanese collector, 1970s.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The edge of a diploma with eight partial lines of text to one side, and six partial lines to the other side; the restored text to the point of textual overlap between obverse and reverse; full stop is used for subscript dot: remains of letter with uncertain reading: Tabella I extrinsecus (obverse): [imp(erator) caes(ar) divi hadriani f(ilius) divi traiani] [part(hici) nepos divi ne]RVA.[e pron(epos) t(itus) aelius] [hadrianus anto]NINVS AVG(ustus) PIVS [pont(ifex) max(imus) trib(unicia) pot(estate) xx i]MP(erator) II CO(n)S(ul) IIII P(ater) P(atriae) [equitib(us) et peditib(us) q]VI MILIT(averunt) IN ALIS [ii quae appell(antur) i claudia] N.OVA MISCELL(anea) [et i gallor(um) flaviana et c]OHORT(ibus) X [v gallor(um) et pannonior(um) et v hisp]ANOR(um) [et i montanor(um) et i antioch(ensium) sagit]T.AR(iorum)1 [et i cretum sagittar(ia) et III campestr(is) c(ivium)] R(omanorum) et ii gallor(um) macedon(ica) et iii britton(um) vet(eranorum) et i aug(usta) lusitanor(um) et i pannonior(um) vet(eranorum) et sunt in moesia sup(eriore)] etc Tabella I intus (reverse): [... et sunt in moesia superior(e) sub] [c]VRTIO. [iusto leg(ato) xxv stip(endis) emer(itis) dimis(sis)] [h]ON(esta) M.[ission(e) quor(um) nomina subscr(ipta)] SVNT C.[ivit(atem) Roman(am) qui eor(um) non haber(ent)] [d]EDIT ET [conub(ium) cum uxorib(us)] [qu]A{s=B} {t=I}VN[c habuis(sent) cum est civit(as) is dat(a) aut cum is] Q.VA{s=C} POST(ea) [duxiss(ent) dumtax(at) singulis] etc on tabella II intus. 7.33 grams, 42 mm

Acquired on the UK art market.
Property of a gentleman collector.

Accompanied by a copy of an illustrated transliteration report by Dr Ittai Gradel.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Text reconstruction following Eck-Pangerl, ‘Moesia und seine Truppen. Neue Diplome für Moesia und Moesia Superior’, Chiron 38 (2008), 369-77 – all these fragments naming Curtius Iustus go back to a constitutio dated 23. April 157 (see Eck-Pangerl for discussion: they list nine copies, including a complete one; this is the second largest number known of any constitutio; yet another – the tenth - copy published by Eck-MacDonald-Pangerl in ZPE 165 (2008), 237-9).

Aviform brooch with inset panels to to wings, tail and head to accept enamel; pin-lug and catchplate below. 6.19 grams, 39 mm

Property of a gentleman; acquired in the 1970s.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Piriform body with long tubular neck and everted rim; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 57 grams total, 96 mm (10.1 cm including stand)

Private collection of Mr K.A., acquired in the 1990s-early 2000s.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.