Marble Head of a Woman

Standing nude in contrapposto stance with winged petasos over his neat hair; left hand modelled open to accept a patera, right hand holding the marsupium coin-purse; free-running bronze arm-ring; mounted on a custom-made stand. 123 grams total, 10.8 cm including stand



Identified as Roman by the British Museum on 8th January 1996. 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 a deep bowl and flat-section handle with integral loop; shallow concentric grooves around the exterior of the neck, rolled rim, concentric rings to the underside; finished on a lathe; cracked and split. 903 grams, 33 cm wide



Acquired in Europe before 1993. Private collection, Europe. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11788-206494.

In contrast to their elaborate counterparts, paterae such as this were likely carried as part of the standard kit of Roman soldiers, used as a general cooking and eating utensil. The regular heap up (sarcina) of the legionaries is well represented on the reliefs of Trajan's column. It was composed of a T stake (furca), to which a linen bag (sacculus) was hung, as well as the leather haversack for 15-20 days supplies (trinum nundinum) and personal effects, a pot (ollula), a cup (patera), and a basket for work on the fields.

Fragment of a carved statue depicting a lifesize figure wearing a pleated and draped stola with left hand clenched in a fist and held at the chest; high-relief modelling of fabric; mounted on a custom-made stand. 23.5 kg total, 49.5 cm including stand



Ex Alison Barker (1951-2021) collection, Chichester, West Sussex, UK. Private collection, England. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12229-215654.