Iron Age Celtic Bronze Phallic Head Terminal

A nail-cleaner comprising a flat blade, waisted stem and conical bulb with band of ring-and-dot motifs alternating with double pellets, gusseted bulb and ovoid finial with hatching; mounted on a custom-made stand. 22.2 grams total, 58 mm including stand



Found East Anglia, UK; before 2000. Acquired in the 2000s. From the private collection of John Lawton, Surrey, UK. Accompanied by a copy of a previous catalogue information page.

Flat in section with crescentic upper end and scrolled lower end, the surface formed with symmetrically placed low-relief palmettes, vine tendrils with grapes and foliage, reserved against the field enamelled in green, dark blue and red. 94 grams, 13 cm

Very good condition.

Acquired in the early 1980s. with Edward Smith, USA. From the collection of a Connecticut, USA, collector. with TimeLine Auctions, 23 May 2017, no.251. Private American collection, New York, USA. 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.11994-210999.

This could be an example of a Romano-British bronze and enamel handle from a mirror or patera, similar to some other existing examples in museums. The shape of the handle is similar to one of the famous pateras from Pompeii. Our specimen is decorated with 'Celtic-style' motifs consisting of a curvilinear scrollwork design of turquoise and blue enamel. A bowl with almost identical enamel work was found in Staffordshire, known as 'The Staffordshire Pan' (WMID-3FE965), while a complete patera was excavated in Amiens (known as the Amiens Patera).

Ellipsoid bezel with segmented face forming cells: band of five rectangles placed medially with spandrels to each side. 7.2 grams, 21 mm



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.