Gnostic Epigraphic Gemstone

A substantial ornamental silver armour phalera with gilt detailing, embossed face of the Gorgon, Medusa, to the centre with detailed eyes, eyebrows and mouth, strong nasal ridge extending towards the forehead, furrowed brow with a pair of wings emerging from the curly hair framing the face, a pair of snakes knotted beneath the chin; wide edge with beaded rim and wavy pointillé decoration; accompanied by a discoid bronze sheet to which the fastening pins were attached to. 113 grams total, 8.8-12.5 cm

Cracked

Acquired in 1970. with Coins and Antiquities, formerly known as D.J. Crowther Ltd, Mayfair, London, UK. Private collection of a London antiquarian. English private collection. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.10623-174245.

Discoid military decorations usually depicted the heads of the gods, spirits of the underworld, birds and lions, Medusa being the most popular subject. Sets of phalerae, similar to those shown on monuments dedicated to Marcus Caelius, Quintus Sertorius Festus and Celer Allius, were found in Neuss, Lauersfort and Newstead. Our phalera finds parallel in similar examples from the magnificent Lauersfort set, echoing the decoration visible on the gravestone of centurion Caelius from Bonn, depicted with a corona civica on his head, the best-known silver military decorations of the early Imperial Age. The higher officers in the Roman army had the custom of wearing such rich suits of phalerae with the straps attached directly to leather garments or doublets, worn over their armour. One such example can be seen on the gravestone of the Aquilifer G. Musius (Jahn, 1860, taf.II; D’Amato, 2018, p.54), where the phalerae are worn over a leather structure like a doublet over the subarmalis. Wearing a double-padded armour under the doublet provided twice as much protection to the warrior and enhanced the phalerae worn over the doublet. These decorations were awarded in sets, commonly of nine, although the sources confirm that this was not an absolute rule. They were worn in a similar fashion to medals on the chest, attached to a leather harness of straps, which ran straight around and up and down the front of the chest, and continued over the shoulders and around the back where they were fastened with buckles (Maxfield, 1981, pp.92-93).

A bronze finger ring with raised ellipsoid bezel, the shoulders decorated with engraved foliage, on the bezel incised in Greek letters the inscription 'ΚΕΡΙ ΚАΛΗ' (written backwards). 4.33 grams, 23.12 mm overall, 21.00 mm internal diameter (approximate size British U 1/2, USA 10 1/4, Europe 23.15, Japan 22)



Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman.

The ring corresponds to the 1d type of Hadjadj's classification. The Greek inscription is probably a barbaric interpretation of 'ΚΗΡΙ ΚАΛΗ' (kind-hearted). The Merovingian typology of the ring suggests a late Roman product under the Roman-Barbarian kingdoms of Gaul or the Iberian Peninsula.

A Roman or Parthian bone figurine of a female with holes to accept pegs for separate articulated arms, hatching to the piled hairstyle, incised facial features, tiered collar, slender body with drape detailing to the bodice, belt and skirt; pierced ears to accept earrings; mounted on a custom-made stand. 214 grams total, 18 cm including stand

Fine condition.

Family collection since the 1960s. with Christie's, London, 29 April 2010, lot 373. Property of a Brussels gentleman. Accompanied by copies of the relevant Christie's catalogue pages.

The doll was made of a carved bone figure of woman with separate arms attached to the body, and pieces for the ears. All the surface shows extensive marks of working by a saw, knife or a file. The body is made from bone, and the style of the doll is typical of Roman Britain. The separate parts were attached with pins or string. On the doll are still visible the little holes for the connecting string.