Byzantine Ribbed Glass Cosmetic Bottle with Trail

Carinated with a domed upper face, circular filling hole and spout, remains of handle, raised linear motifs. 65 grams, 90 mm



Acquired 1970s onwards. Private collection of Michael O'Hara, Cambridgeshire, UK. Ex private collection of Benjamin Hyde-Smith, Hertfordshire, UK.

Formed in the half-round as a youthful female bust, a cross in the middle of the high hair arrangement (propoloma). 193 grams, 97 mm



Ex Law Professor in Alexandria, prior to 1930. Ex collection M. Bouvier, Switzerland (1901-1980).

The image of the Roman Empress during the late Roman Empire, was connected to Christianity by the figure of the Empress Helena. Constantine had several cities renamed Helenopolis in honour of his mother, Helena, and she gained the political verification of power with the status nobilissima femina in 318 and the rank of Augusta in 324. Alongside her social and political image, Helena also had a significant reputation as a good Christian who was a patron and took care of poor people. Owing to this powerful religious image that was created, all other Christian women during the Eastern Roman Empire were encouraged spiritually by the fact that Helena was the mother of the first Christian emperor, and the image of the Roman empress was connected to the Christian image of the Mother of God, and represented on weights, bronze appliques and, in this case, maybe as an upper mount of a tripod.

Comprising six circular commercial weights of different types and sizes, including examples stamped with letter motifs. 61 grams total, 10-27 mm



Ex Simmons Gallery, London E11, UK, in the 1990s. From a North London collection.

The biggest weight is a one ounce weight, having an engraved monogram of Γ and Α. The flans of circular coin weights were turned on a lathe in the 6th century A.D., giving them a neat appearance. The designs are usually quite simple and often crudely executed, either engraved or slipped.