Roman and Other Black Glass Bead Necklace String

Comprising a plaque of three conjoined lobes with segmented border; at the top, a loop with segmented rim; vignette with a nude male with shoulder-length hair embracing a taller bearded figure with kilt and mantle to left shoulder (Hercules?); below, a satyr with horns and goat's legs beset by hunting dogs. 286 grams, 13.8 cm



Acquired in 1992. Private collection, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12865-241702.

Vessel mounts of this form are not a commonly recovered artefact type and the presence of two figures instead one is a very singular feature. We can suppose that the mount was attached to a vessel of large dimensions and of a certain importance.

Including lozenge bezel with tremolier design, disc bezel with reserved wheel-cross and other types. 60 grams total, 21-28 mm



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

Fragments of wall plaster with rendered surface painted with mainly red, pale blue and white detailing; some with impression of timber laths to the reverse. 496 grams total, 7-10.7 cm



Acquired in the 19th century. Ex Jeger collection, Switzerland. UK gallery, early 2000s.

These small fragments, showing analogies with fragments from Pompeii, seem to belong to the second style of Roman painting, red panels representing highlights and shadows, decorated with vegetal interlaces. Some panels were probably framed by a red grenade fillet. A fragment shows alternate blue and red colours over a cream background, maybe pertinent to a socle.