Late Roman Ring with Man Catching Fish

A set of military belt elements comprising: a buckle with rectangular plate, richly decorated with embossed laurel leaves in a grid, framed with raised bosses, the buckle loop comprising opposing dragons with open mouths, holding a spherical tongue-rest, another pair of smaller dragon heads to base, the tongue with a smaller pair of punch-decorated dragon heads; three rectangular belt fittings, two with similar laurel leaf decoration and raised border, the central plaque with two foliate pendants with punched decoration. 390 grams total, 27.5 cm wide

Very fine, excellent condition

Acquired before the 1970s. Ex J.L. collection, Surrey, U.K., thence by decent. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11588-199387.

Most precious military belts, like this one, were reserved to soldiers belonging to Legiones Palatinae, i.e. the legions forming part of the imperial Comitatus, accompanying the emperor in his military expeditions.

A bronze multi-tool featuring a compass and tweezers, free-moving collar to one arm, one arm with two oval terminals and one tapering to a point. 19 grams, 90 mm



Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.

This instrument, a type of circinus formed of two flat-section arms, was widely used by masons and carpenters, as well as for making wall decorations for the preparation of repetitive elements such as spirals or circles. It was widely used by the agrimensores of the army, as is proven by a very similar specimen found in Carnuntum, the camp of the Legio XIIII Gemina.

A gilt-silver openwork bar displaying the Latin word 'VIVA'; the A now separate. 0.53 grams total, 6-13 mm



Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman.