Late Roman Bronze Throne for a Seated Figure of a Bishop or High Functionary

Each a D-section disc with central triskele and coiled arms, segmented detailing to the outer face. 340 grams total, 10-10.2 cm



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 two mounts are elements of horse harness decorating the antilena and postilena of the horse, as intersection fittings of the main straps. According to Alfoldi, these horse harnesses were the product of a metallurgy that was the fruit of a Gallo-Roman revival, and not exclusively of military nature. The military adopted similar elements fruit of the revival of this Celtic-Roman decorative art, since such harnesses have also been discovered in border fortresses. But the large industrial centers, which worked for export, manufactured objects primarily for the Danubian regions where both the soldiers and the civilian population, without distinction of class, used them as habitual objects.

With scroll motifs divided in two panels, rolled and ribbed forward edge, holes for four attachment pins. 45.2 grams, 71 mm



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman.

Squat in profile with trumpet-shaped neck and mouth, rolled rim, dimple base, pinched lobes to the body; some iridescence. 102 grams, 11.1 cm



From a London, UK, collection, 1990s.