Details

LOT 0146

Large Roman Gold Brooch with Apollo Gemstone

2ND-3RD CENTURY AD

1 3/4" (21.68 grams, 47mm).

A hollow-formed gold oval plate brooch with braided filigree border, concentric bands of bosses and applied filigree guilloche, beaded wire collar with applied granules; central dome with cell, inset truncated oval sardonyx cabochon, intaglio profile bust of Apollo, applied catch and two hoops to the reverse.

Provenance

From a late 1990s private collection; formerly acquired on the UK art market in the early 1980s; accompanied by a copy of a report from Striptwist Ltd, a London-based company run by historical precious metal specialist Dr Jack Ogden, reference number 191011, and an independent specialist report and valuation by graduate gemmologist and jewellery expert Anna Rogers, GIA GG, BA, Gem-A, ref. no. 0532/02/06/2020; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.155129-10028.

Literature

See Tait, H. ed., 7000 Years Of Jewelry, The British Museum Press, London, 2009, item. 246, for an example bearing some stylistic comparison; see Hattatt, R., A Visual Catalogue of Richard Hattatt's Ancient Brooches, Oxbow Books, Oxford, 2000, esp. pp.342-347, for a series of discoid brooches and pp.364-365, for oval examples.

Footnotes

The soldered join of stepped form used to form the sheet gold side wall of the brooch is rare in jewellery created before the Migration Period (say, 5th-6th century AD) and this brooch may be among the earliest examples of the joint in existence.

CONDITION

VETTING:

TimeLine Auctions follows a rigorous vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process

AUCTIONS:

TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.