Roman and Other Bead Necklace

Including annular, spherical, tabular and other types in various materials. 66 grams total, 3-22 mm



Found Billingsgate spoil from the Thames foreshore, London, UK, circa 1984. Property of an Essex collector.

Standing in contrapposto pose, wearing a cloak draped from the right shoulder and tucked around the left arm supporting a caduceus with snake-head finials; broad-brimmed petasos with wings on the crown; the right arm held vertically at the side supporting the marsupium coin-purse; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 111 grams total, 88 mm including stand



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.

Mercury was the god of trade and industry, whose principle shrine in the city of Rome was at the Circus Maximus. The draped mantle is typical for statuary of Mercury from the 1st-2nd century A.D. (Boucher, pl.40, 43) as is the caduceus (Boucher, pl.46 (211)).

With high-relief image depicting a she-wolf in profile advancing beneath a tree, with an infant or boy (Romulus?) on its back, nude and looking up towards the tree. 39 grams, 62 mm

Mostly intact, good condition.

Believed to have been found in Wakefield, UK, in the 1960s. From the Roman 'Invasion Period' private collection of Brian Riley, Wakefield, UK, 1960s-2007. Acquired from Brian Riley, Yorkshire, UK, circa 2007. Property of a Stowmarket, UK, gentleman. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Military phalerae usually depicted heads of the gods, spirits of the underworld, birds and lions. The higher officers in the Roman army had the custom of wearing a rich suite of phalerae with its straps directly attached to leather garments or doublets, worn over their armour. These decorations were awarded in sets, commonly of nine, although sources confirm that this was not an always the case.