Roman Agate Cameo with Sleeping Dog

Showing a New Comedy, 'Cook' type theatre mask with an open mouth; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 1.07 grams, 13 mm



Private English collection, formed between the late 1970s and early 1990s. Private collection, London, UK.

Miniature models of theatrical masks were mass-produced in the ancient world, and can be linked with the Dionysiac mysteries, in association with funeral rites, illustrating the Dionysiac thiasos, the orgiastic world of satyrs and maenads. However, they can also be miniature models of masks linked with highbrow Sophoclean and Euripidean tragedy, or with so-called Middle Comedy, which now only survives in fragments.

Shallow bowl with moulded pillar detailing on the outer face. 142 grams, 12.6 cm wide



Acquired from Millennium Antiquities, Lancashire, UK, in 2001. From the collection of a Bedfordshire, UK, lady. Accompanied by an original Millennium Antiquities certificate of authenticity dated 13 October 2001.

Ribbed bowls were typical cast tableware belonging to the early Imperial period, and parallels have been found throughout the Roman provinces and beyond. In Cyprus, as elsewhere in the eastern half of the Empire, bowls with short, close-set ribs concentrated around the middle of the body constitute a large group.

Comprising a central disc surrounded by six loops and set with five annular beads, a pin and catch on the reverse. 4.54 grams, 39 mm



From the private coin collection of a West London, UK, gentleman, formed since the mid 1980s.