Roman Agate Cameo of a Theatrical Mask

Hollow-form pendant with applied granules and wire decoration. 1.25 grams, 24 mm



Ex London, UK, gentleman's collection, 1980-1990s.

The object finds a good parallel with a pendant of the same shape forming part of a remarkable hoard of late-Roman gold jewellery and silver tableware found near Thetford, Norfolk, in 1979. The jewellery included necklaces and clasps, five pendants, and four bracelets. One pendant takes the shape of a Hercules club, a design often used for earrings.

Comprising a tapering body with a Corinthian capital finial, a standing female figure atop the capital, dressed in long robes. 16 grams, 98 mm



Acquired in the 1980s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s.

The pin seems to belong to the group 18 of the Cool's classification. The treatment of the figures in these pins varies greatly, including both the very 'Celtic' looking face on a pin from Cirencester and a Graeco-Roman figure type of Venus standing on a Corinthian capital from London. This great diversity of treatments clearly suggests that these pins were the occasional products of a wide variety of workshops.

Comprising: Roman orange glass ring; Roman iron ring with glass intaglio; three early Byzantine bronze rings with solar symbols engraved on the bezel; two early Medieval bronze rings, one with a coat of arms and one with an eagle; one late Medieval silver ring with a floriated cross; two Renaissance rings set with coloured glass insert. 50 grams total, 20-28 mm



From the stock of a former UK antiquarian, acquired at trade fairs and from private collection formed in the 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Europe.