Hadrian's Wall and Roman Antiquities Map by John Speed

With intaglio eagle standing with head turned and a wreath in its beak; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 0.90 grams, 11.21 mm



From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s.

Ellipsoid in plan with enigmatic Greek legend 'BPE/IMW' to underside, facing figure of Aphrodite Anadyomene to obverse on baseline with Greek legend 'APE IAP', possibly an abbreviation for ΑΡ[ΌΡΙΦ]ΡΑ[Σ]Ι[Σ]. 1.38 grams, 17 mm



Private collection, acquired on the German art market in 1993; thence by descent.

The gemstone belongs to a series of blue gemstones, usually of lapis lazuli or blue glass, showing the famous image of Aphrodite Anadyomene ('rising from the sea'). In some of these gemstones, we find the magical word arôriphrasis, which transliterates an Egyptian title of the goddess Hathor as 'The Lady of the Blue Stone'. Since Hathor and Aphrodite were assimilated in Graeco-Roman Egypt, there is some logic to the appearance of the name and Aphrodite on these stones.

Shallow, circular body with volute scrolls flanking the nozzle, low relief image of a butting bull on a baseline on the discus. 59.5 grams, 91 mm



From the private collection of Mr Brian Edwards, New Malden, Surrey, UK, formed from the late 1970s-early 1980s; thence by descent. Accompanied by the original collector's data sheet with reference no.A38.