Roman and Other Dark Blue Glass Bead Necklace String

Fragments of wall plaster with rendered surface painted with mainly Pompeii red, pale blue, brown and cream detailing; some with an impression of timber laths to the reverse. 1.21 kg total, 7.2-14.7 cm



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

These small fragments, by analogy with the fragments of Pompeii, seem to belong to the second style of Roman painting - red panels representing highlight and shadow, decorated with vegetal interlaces. A red grenade fillet probably framed some panels. A fragment shows alternate blue and red colours over a cream background, maybe pertinent to a socle.

With D-section hoop and flared discoid bezel, incuse figure of a boat with curved stem and stern, bank of oars extended, Christogram in place of the mast. 7.85 grams, 25.90 mm overall, 21.03 mm internal diameter (approximate size British U 1/2, USA 10 1/4, Europe 23.15, Japan 22)



Private collection of Kal Noselson, New York, acquired between 1976 and the late 1990s; thence by descent.

With stub handle to the rear, wide rim with rosettes, the discus with an angel above three young men: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego with flames below; a low basal ring. 175 grams, 14 cm



From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s.

The scene is a depiction of the story from chapter three of the Book of Daniel. The three Jewish men, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, were thrown into a fiery furnace by Nebuchadnezzar II, King of Babylon, for refusing to bow to the king's image. After having the three men thrown into the furnace, to his astonishment, Nebuchadnezzar saw four men walking unharmed amidst the fire, describing the fourth figure as being 'like the Son of God'.