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LOT 0911
Late Roman Votive Lead Mirror Inscribed 'For the woman who loves her husband'
3RD CENTURY A.D.
4 in. (35 grams, 10.3 cm).
Comprising a discoid plate with running scroll border, lentoid-section handle with raised teardrop decoration; applied central reflective disc with Greek inscription to the reverse: 'τῆς φιλάνδρου πάντα' translating to 'For the woman who loves her husband'; with original reflective glass in situ.
ProvenanceAcquired from Brigantia, York, UK, circa 2010.
Ian Wilkinson collection, Nottinghamshire, UK, formed since 1985.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
Cf. Spasić Durić, D., Град Виминацијум-The city of Viminacium, (in Serbian), Pozarevac, 2015, fig.78, for similar; see also the same inscription on a lead mirror from Black Sea Region, in Из истории Северного Причерноморья в ант. эпоха (From the history of the Northern Black Sea region in the ancient era (in Russian), 1979, p.118,3.
FootnotesMany examples of this category from the Danube region were found in female graves, where they perhaps served as grave goods considered appropriate for their connection with general issues of fertility, good fortune, and beauty, or even as protective amulets. The inscriptions found on votive lead mirrors in Pannonia, published by Németh & Szabó, show female characteristics, and the beautiful female soul as an addressee. Since lead mirror frames have been found in this Roman province only in graves of women, it is probable that these miniature mirrors, filled with glass in their central hole, were expected to serve as ritual or magical tools to assist the souls of dead women in the afterlife.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0911
Late Roman Votive Lead Mirror Inscribed 'For the woman who loves her husband'
Sold for (Inc. bp): £546
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Life-Size Roman Bronze Thumb
1st-2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,430
Hollow-form with accurate anatomical detailing. 137 grams, 68 mm
From the collection of a London antiquarian, formed since the 1980s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato. -
Roman Iridescent Glass Bangle Pair
3rd-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
Each a slender D-section hoop with some iridescent surface. 10.3 grams total, 60 mm each
From an old English collection. Acquired from Helios Gallery in 2011. Ian Wilkinson collection, Nottinghamshire, UK, formed since 1985. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
The mass production of glass in ancient Rome prompted the development of glass jewellery of unique qualities. The ancient Romans considered jewellery to be an essential accessory, being a public display of the wealth of high social classes. Recent excavations have provided better information on the use of glass for necklaces and bracelets, and in some cases it has been possible to understand the exact arrangement of the jewellery. -
Roman Green Glass Bottle
1st-2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £98
Small, flattened base with pontil mark; long, cylindrical neck with a slightly everted mouth; lip folded inwards; free-blown, partially with sinter deposits. 39.8 grams, 13.3 cm
Ex Helene Wackernagel-Wenk (1901-1979), Switzerland; thence by descent. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
Helene Wackernagel-Wenk was a distinguished collector of art and antiquities, celebrated for her refined taste and commitment to preserving cultural heritage. Her collection encompassed a wide range of artifacts, reflecting her deep appreciation for the artistic and historical significance of ancient civilizations. Known for her meticulous curation, Wackernagel-Wenk’s legacy endures through the exceptional pieces that once formed part of her esteemed collection. Artifacts associated with her name are highly valued for their provenance and quality. Pear-shaped body.
