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Roman Iridescent Glass Flask
Circa 1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
With globular body, long cylindrical neck and flared rim; iridescent surfaces. 52 grams, 15.7 cm
From a London, UK, collection of glass, 1970-2000s. -
Roman and Other Glass Bead Necklace String
1st-4th century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £111
A short designer necklace with mixed group of graduated beads in matching colours, central feature a conical stone bead; restrung. 14.3 grams, 41 cm
From London, UK, gallery collection, 1990s. -
Roman Bronze Ring with XLVIII
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Slender hoop with rectangular bezel stamped 'XLVIII' (48). 1.11 grams, 21.65 mm overall, 19.01 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 a Surrey, UK, gentleman. -
Roman Silver Ring with Sun-Wheel
Circa 2nd-3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £104
With flat-section hoop, broad corrugated shoulders, plaque with raised disc bezel, sun-wheel motif. 4.36 grams, 21.90 mm overall, 19.89 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 a Surrey, UK, gentleman. -
Roman and Other Mixed Stone and Glass Bead Collection
1st-4th century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £111
Comprising variously sized beads in various forms, including spherical, teardrop-shaped, oblate and one large elbow bead. 106 grams total, 2-42 mm
UK gallery, early 2000s. -
Roman Bronze Phallic Dagger Quillon or Pendant
1st-2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
With a rectangular plaque with central void, phallus to one short edge and a stylised fist to the other. 25.5 grams, 55 mm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
In the Roman world the phallus was symbol of luck or fertility, and it as well was believed to have apotropaic functions. Pendants, amulets and small objects were worn by all sorts of people as symbols of protection, especially from young children according to Varro and Pliny the Elder. The phallus is commonly found on reliefs, frescoes and lamps from the Graeco-Roman world. This object can have been the quillon of a small dagger, but also hung as a charm from a tintinnabulum, a wind chime adorned with bells and intended to ward off evil. -
Roman Bronze Military Horse Harness Pendant Collection
1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
Comprising a dished roundel with strap-sliders to the reverse, hinged ivy-leaf pendant below; separate pendant with openwork detailing. 50 grams total, 50-81 mm
Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman. -
Roman Gold Earring Pair with Gemstone Drops
2nd-3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,690
Matched pair, each a hoop and suspension hook; a crescent plaque supported by filigree wires with granulated collars, lateral dangles with turquoise seed beads and median longer dangle with granulated collars and gemstone finial; a marriage. 9.32 grams total, 60-62 mm
Acquired in 1995. Private collection, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12863-241727. -
Roman and Later Ring Collection
1st century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £72
Including openwork type with 'PAX' monogram, spiked band and other types. 22.9 grams total, 21-34 mm
Private collection, Europe. Acquired on the English art market. -
Roman Bone Spindle Whorl Collection
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £182
Including plano-convex, ribbed and other types, some with ring-and-dot detailing. 45 grams total, 16-23 mm
From the collection of a Kent gentleman, formed from the 1990s. -
Roman Sard Gemstone with a Maenad Mask
1st century B.C.-1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
With intaglio profile bust of a woman facing left; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 0.49 grams, 11 mm
Private English collection, formed between the late 1970s and early 1990s. Private collection, London, UK. -
Roman Aqua Glass Jug
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £494
With rounded conical body, upward sloping everted rim with sloping internal face; applied trail to upper and lower neck, angular handle; iridescent surfaces; repaired. 57 grams, 14 cm high
Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private collection since 1998.