Christian St Simeon Stylites the Younger with Vessels Terracotta Pilgrim's Token

Disc bezel flanked by two bosses; gilt panel with low-relief eagle. 6.69 grams, 24.36 mm overall, 21.21 x 20.94 mm internal diameter (approximate size British W, USA 11, Europe 25, Japan 24)



UK private collection before 2000. Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, London, UK.

Columnar stem with conical base extending to a square-section shank. 18.8 grams, 31 mm



From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.

Stamping in antiquity and in the Roman Empire was under strict regulations, and it was not limited to food and liquid containers. Bricks and tiles used in construction were impressed with the names of magistrates, workshops, estate owners from whom the material came, and the names of individual makers. Among the myriad Late Roman stamps, a great number were to mark bread or containers holding flour and other foods, as well as a variety of liquids such as wine, oil, fish and fruits preserved in sauces, medical ointments, and even water. It is interesting to note as the Jewish symbols here engraved are very stylised: as mentioned by various scholars, the Jewish representations of shofar and lulav on this category of stamps degenerated in quality in Late Antiquity, and this is why they are variously dated between the 4th and the 7th century.

Formed of expanding round-section arms with a raised plaque at the centre on both sides. 11.44 grams, 55 mm



Acquired on the UK art market from the 1990s. From the private collection of a Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman.