Roman and Other Bronze Ring Group

Composed of graduated black glass and faience beads of various types, including biconical, carinated, oblate, annular and other types; restrung. 12.6 grams, 81 cm long



Ex W.J. collection, 1990s.

Imitating Hadrian's sestertius adlocutio, the emperor with a companion (or Castor and Pollux) on horseback, one of the horsemen holding a round shield; arrayed legions in front of them wearing crested helmets, raised spears and quadrangular shields; legionary eagle in the foreground; the scene enclosed within a rope border; pin lugs and catchplate to the reverse. 12.9 grams, 33 mm



From a Cambridgeshire, UK, collection, 1990s. This brooch is an extreme rarity and is believed to be the finest known example. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11747-202502.

These brooches were a mystery until one was excavated at Wiggonholt, Sussex, together with three other damaged specimens now in the Devizes Museum, all from Wiltshire (more precisely Cold Kitchen Hill). The image of the original coin was slightly modified. The local craftsman improved the coin type making his brooch more interesting, transforming the Emperor Hadrian on horseback into two cavalrymen, probably the sacred Dioscuri, while the Roman Aquila, symbol of the legions, was taken from the top of the signa and placed in the foreground.

The section comprising square and rectangular tesserae set into Roman cement; held in a wooden frame with identification plaque. 4.1 kg, 33.3 cm wide



From a 19th century collection based on the bone plaque and frame. From an old collection of antiquities built up by a family in Newark, Nottinghamshire, UK.

This floor section was originally found presumably near the the site of Ad Pontem, a large walled Roman town on the outskirts of Newark.