Large Roman Terracotta Jug

With delicately modelled youthful features, thick hair framing the face adorned with a laurel-wreath secured at the rear, traces of silvering to the eyes; ledge base; possibly Apollo the sun-god, or a lar (guardian spirit). 31 grams, 32 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.

The use of domestic gods continued in the Roman Empire also in later times. Of particular interest is a group of sculptures discovered in the Theodosian Palace in Stobi. The finds consist of marble and bronze statuettes and reliefs that were deposited in one of the ornamental basins located in the peristyle. Four of the smaller bronze sculptures— a lar, Apollo, Venus, and a satyr— may have formed the contents of a lararium. The palace was in use until the 5th century A.D., but the sculptures consists of heirloom and reused pieces dated at 2nd-1st century B.C. However, an unusual feature of this bronze assemblage is the fact that they date overwhelmingly to the 3rd century A.D.

Right arm from a small statue of a female with long, slender fingers; socket to the upper end; the thumb and forefinger closed. 58 grams, 62 mm



Private collection of Mr S.A., Switzerland, 1990s, thence by descent.

Moulmade with large handle; squat pear-shaped body, open discus with large central filling hole surrounded by two rows of radiating lines and ridge that forms a narrow channel to the nozzle; base decorated with a stylised Chrismon. 78 grams, 94 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.

The type belongs probably to a variant of so-called Late Ephesian Lamps, i.e. lamps of Asia Minor. Late Ephesian type lamps have very characteristic underbodies. Several examples have an impressed circular mark, for example a cross formed of four vertically placed small circles with two more placed horizontally, or a Chi Rho, like in this example.