Amethyst Apollo Gemstone

The upper part of a Beneficiarius dedicatory spear or sceptre, comprising a circular-section shaft with an ivy leaf finial, a crescent (lunula) below and the point with triple acorn-shaped spheres; the lower end of the shaft square-section and with a rosette for attaching it to the wooden part, engraved with X-motifs and circumferential lines. 62 grams, 49 cm



Found Cambridgeshire, UK. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

The beneficiarii, within the Roman army, were soldiers exempted from menial duties and acting as orderlies of senior officers; they were also charged with particular duties by governors and generals. Their distinctive insignia were decorated spears, often with a point shaped like an ivy leaf. The military stela from Perinth depicting a 3rd century beneficiarius shows a very similar spear, mounted over a particular structure on the midshaft of the spear.

Rectangular plaque with rounded edges, incised legend 'VIC / TOR' with frond between and at each end. 5.20 grams, 21.89 mm overall, 18.42 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q, USA 8, Europe 17.49, Japan 16)



Acquired on the UK art market before 2000. Property of a Surrey, UK, collector.

Featuring a bottle of a wide form, free blown from translucent glass of a soft turquoise hue, defined by a slightly concave base, a piriform body with a tapered shoulder, a lightly corseted neckline beneath a cylindrical neck, and a splayed rim with an in-folded lip. 23 grams, 11.6 cm high



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

The ampulla was a small round vessel, usually made of glass and used for sacred purposes. The word is used in archaeology, also for flasks that are often handle-less and much flatter. Materials include glass, ceramics and metal. The unguentarium was a term for a bottle believed to have been used to store perfume.