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LOT 0611
Late Roman Iron Branding Signaculum
5TH-6TH CENTURY A.D.
11 5/8 in. (343 grams, 29.5 cm high).
Featuring an elaborate monogram composed of Greek letters M, A, T and P on three supporting prongs; tapering cylindrical socket.
ProvenanceAcquired 1990s-early 2000s.
East Anglian private collection.
See Baratta, G., 'Roman Signacula / Una particolare categoria di signacula: marchi per legno, pellame ed animali', in Mayer, M., Olive, G., Baratta, G., Guzman Almagro, A. (ed.), XII Congressus Internationalis Epigraphiae Grecae et Latinae, Barcelona, 2007, pp.99-108, figs.3, 7, for similar stamps.
FootnotesBranding stamps or signacula, in particular those with large single letters, were used for marking livestock to identify the owner, the breed, the quality and other features of the animal. These signacula were usually made in bronze, but iron examples are also preserved.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0611
Late Roman Iron Branding Signaculum
Estimate £100 - 140€120 - 160 (for guidance only)$140 - 190 (for guidance only)
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Roman Mixed Bead Group
2nd-5th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Composed of mainly opaque polychrome glass, faience and stone beads of a variety of sizes and types, including melon, tubular, facetted, annular and barrel types, and others. 54 grams total, 2-36 mm
Ex W.J. collection, 1990s. -
Roman Bronze Plate Brooch
Circa 2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Complete with pin and catchplate to reverse; geometric composition comprising a discoid head over a rectangular bar with lobed trefoil below. 5.9 grams, 47 mm
Acquired from York Antiques Centre. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by Gary Edwards. -
Roman Terracotta Lamp with Fighting Gladiators
1st-2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,300
Composed of a discoid body with sunken discus bearing a scene of two gladiators in combat in relief, tabula ansata below, ring handle and roughly D-shaped nozzle with volutes; old crack to base. 84 grams, 12.4 cm
From a German collection. Ex Cambridge, UK, collection, 1980s.
The two gladiators seem to wear the armaturae of murmillones. All gladiators began their career as provocatores; the learning of their combat technique was polyvalent and allowed the fighters to specialise as a large shield-bearer (the scutati) like murmillones, or as a small shield-bearers, parmati, like the oplomachus.
