Late Roman Silver Lunar Pendant

Discoid plaque with one polished face, slightly raised rim; cracked. 100 grams, 11.5 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.

With everted rim and decorative geometric band to the shoulder. 1.98 kg, 28 cm wide



Found Upchurch Marshes, Kent, UK, in the 1980s. Ex Winter Collection, Kent, UK.

The Roman pottery kilns on what are now the tidal marshes at Upchurch, Kent, are justly famed as a thriving pottery production area with many kiln and related sites. The London clay in this area is of fine quality and was thus suitable for pottery making. With the rise in the sea level, the area is now mostly inundated and, as tidal forces erode the silts, pottery (often 'seconds'), is sometimes exposed. The soft muds and general inaccessibility of the area make collection difficult.

Depicted as a bearded man, seated and naked apart from a hood or cap on his head, with rope binding the hands together and extending around the neck and ankles; ferrous stud to the back for attachment. 24.3 grams, 37 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.

Statuettes of barbarian prisoners of this type have been found especially along the Danube limes. Some have a vertical and others horizontal position, and were used as horse harnesses or parts of horse's bits. Their diffusion coincides with the Marcomannic wars of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius.