Roman and Other Bead Necklace

An unusual copper-alloy zoomorphic plate brooch in the shape of a dog with two legs and a long tail, the body characterised by a series of horizontal grooves, raised pins to the front and back, the ones on the back probably for the attachment of the hinged pin. 2.5 grams, 34 mm



Acquire in the 1990s. Ex Cambridgeshire, UK, collection.

This unusual fibula was probably a provincial production. The dog was connected to the Celtic divinities and also with Silvanus, who was associated with healing, hunting, and dogs.

A carved marble herm boundary marker carved in the round as the bust of an adult male wearing a conical cap and with a full beard; dorsal pillar terminating behind the head. 7.3 kg, 31.5 cm high



French collection, 1960s-early 2000s. From an important Paris gallery, France. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11629-199364.

Possibly an architectural element or herm: herma (Ancient Greek: ἑρμῆς, usually called a 'herm' in English), is a sculptured stone block with a head and often a chest above an undecorated lower section on which male genitals may additionally be carved. From the Neolithic period onwards, in parts of Europe, divinities were worshipped in the form of either a heap of stones (cairn) or a wooden column. Piles of stones were created beside roads and at the borders of fields as they were cleared of pebbles, and religious respect was shown through the custom of each passer-by throwing a stone on the heap or offering a libation. In due course, the addition of a carved head (and phallus) to the column encouraged the belief that these monuments were especially favoured by divinities.

A hollow-formed gold finger ring with facetted shoulders, inset cabochon intaglio of Eros (Cupid) in flight. 3.22 grams, 24.20 mm overall, 16.84 mm internal diameter (approximate size British J 1/2, USA 5, Europe 9.32, Japan 9)



Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private Swiss collection since 1998.