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LOT 0118
Dated Roman Inked Reused Wooden Wax Tablet by Julius Maianus
328 A.D.
5 3/4 x 5 1/8 in. (32 grams, 14.5 x 13 cm).
Well preserved rectangular, probably cedarwood tablet with a groove (sulcus) and inked text to one face, two small holes and remains of wax within the sulcus; five personal signatures of witnesses above the sulcus, the text of the document starts with the date: in the year after the consulate of Flavius Constantius and Valerius Maximus (= AD 328), the following text regards testaments kept by Julius Maianus who is called depositarius, in the following lines the textual style is very short and several times verbs seem to be missing, therefore, the document probably was some kind of report or protocol, we are lacking parallels of similar documents, which makes this tablet unique and important. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired by Albert Sfez in the early 1950s.
Formerly the property of Monsieur Alain Sfez, a Belgium collector; acquired by gift from his father Albert Sfez, in 1965.
Acquired by a London dealer in 1973.
From an important London collection since 1975; thence by descent.
Accompanied by a copy of a four page illustrated academic report by Professor Dr. phil. Peter Rothenhöfer.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12672-230807.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Exhibited at the Harwich Museum, Harwich, Essex, UK, 12th March-9th June 2025; accompanied by a copy of a photograph of the artefacts on display.
LiteratureFor testaments and further documents from the same collection see Rothenhöfer, Peter, and Blänsdorf, Jürgen Sana mente sanaque memoria testamentum feci: Eine testamentarische Verfügung vom 12. April 340 n. Chr., Gephyra 13 (2016), pp.153-163; Rothenhoefer, P. Bemerkungen zum Testament des Pomponius Maximus aus dem Jahr 371 n. Chr. (Notes on the Testament of Pomponius Maximus from the Year AD 371). Zeitschrift der Savigny Stiftung für Rechtsgeschichte (Romanistische Abteilung), 142, 2025, pp.200-232; Rothenhöfer, P., Neue römische Rechtsdokumente aus dem Byzacena-Archiv / New Roman Legal Documents from the Byzacena Archive, (forthcoming); and cf. Rothenhöfer, Peter and Wang, Weixia Flavius Aelius Victorinus praeses provinciae Numidiae, VDI 2025 (forthcoming); Wang, Weixia, Vibius Flavianus, First Governor of the provincia Valeria Byzacena, VDI 2025 (forthcoming).
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0118
Dated Roman Inked Reused Wooden Wax Tablet by Julius Maianus
Sold for (Inc. bp): £8,775
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Roman and Byzantine Ceramic Oil Lamp Collection
4th-8th century A.D.Estimate: £300 - 400 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £150
Comprising: a piriform lamp with birds and geometric motifs, low basal ring; a piriform lamp with raised pellets and other motifs; a rounded lamp with short nozzle, low-relief leaves and ring-and-dot motifs within geometric border, a hatched rectangle behind the nozzle, a palm branch underneath the nozzle flanked by crescentic lines and ring-and-dot motifs, raised nipple to base. 190 grams total, 78-90 mm
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. -
Roman Terracotta Figure of King Priam
1st century B.C.-1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £936
A hollow-form figural group comprising an advancing old King Priam with his right arm raised, wearing a belted tunic and a diadem, hair arranged in orderly locks; behind him a smaller figure of a soldier wearing a plumed Pseudo-Attic helmet; the hand of the warrior is holding the old king; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 291 grams total, 18.5 cm high including stand
Private Swiss collection, 1971. 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.
The scene probably represents the old King Priam's plea to Achilles' son, Neoptolemus, to spare his son Polites, whom the Greek warrior is about to kill. It is made in a strong classical style with precise costume details, such as the royal diadem, the long sleeved Phrygian-type tunic and the king's belt. -
Roman Bronze Crossbow Brooch
3rd-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
With deep slender bow and domed knop to each end of the crossbar, D-shaped plate with spike to accept a third knop (absent), foot with chamfered sides and catch to reverse; pin and spring. 37 grams, 66.5 mm
From the private collection of John Fox, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK, antiquarian and archaeologist; his collection assembled in the 1950s-1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
