Medieval Bronze Portable Mirror Case

The outer band with incuse legend '+ AQUILA IOhANNIS' (Eagle of [Saint] John]), suspension loop above with a leaf terminal to the reverse; set with a 2nd century A.D. Roman carnelian intaglio with a military eagle standing with spread wings, a laurel crown held in its beak, the claws gripping the base, two military standards at its sides; both shafts decorated with alternating phalerae, and lunulae. 3.74 grams, 21 mm



From the Smith family collection, formed in the late 1940s-1980s. 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 a search certificate number no. 12045-217155.

Often the military intaglio gemstones of the ancient Rome were carved with an eagle between two standards. These intaglios could have been inserted in rings that belonged to an officer with the rank of Aquilifer (bearer of the legionary eagle). From the 4th century A.D., the vision of Ezekiel and John's Apocalypse, assigned the lion, the angel, the eagle, and the ox a place in the iconography of the Tetramorph to represent the four evangelists.

Comprising: ampulla with scallop detailing to the bulb, two lateral loop handles, upper portion of obverse removed; ampulla with hatched moulding to the bulb, 'AD' flanking a leek to obverse, crowned 'A' monogram to reverse, top edge cut away. 118 grams total, 45-54 mm



Found North Yorkshire, UK. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.SWYOR-0EAB85. Accompanied by the original British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) receipt copy no.001936 dated 13 August 2016.

Pyramidal mount with two broad openwork trapezoidal panels, each with a rampant beast in Romanesque style, and two narrow lateral panels each with a band of chevron ornament. 7.37 grams, 29 mm



Ex M Braham, London, UK, 1970s, and Lord Alistair McAlpine, London, UK, collections.