Large Roman Bronze Jug with Handle

Comprising two discoid ornamental appliqués with beaded rims, each with repoussé pelta-shaped panel terminating in opposed bird-heads, surmounted by scrolled tendrils and a kantharos enclosed in a laurel crown. 7.28 grams total, 64-65 mm



Acquired in the early 1990s. From the collection of a London antiquarian. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The subject represented on these two bracteae is a military shield in the form of a crescent, the so-called pelta, associated in the Late Roman iconography with the Amazon female warriors. This was not necessarily only an iconographic motif, considering that many shields of this typology were represented on the pedestal of the Column of Arcadius in Constantinople (circa 400 A.D.) and they seemed to be associated with the heavy cavalry of the Imperial guard (D’Amato-Negin, 2017, p.252). This could suggest that these gold sheets were applied upon phalerae or military decorations.

Carved in the round, nude male torso resting against a tree (or jamb of an arch), with skilfully delineated musculature, in contrapposto pose; abraded. 3.27 kg, 23 cm.



Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12230-222368

With a recessed panel on one side and scored frame with securing holes close to both long sides; eleven lines of inked text in Roman cursive containing the record of a legal document in a formulaic legal language; two lines of cursive text to reverse; supplied with six monochrome photographs of the tablet displaying the text to advantage. 11 grams, 15 x 8.1 cm



From an important London collection since 1975. Accompanied by a collection of six 1970s photographs of the the tablet.