Roman and Other Glass Bead Necklace

Including burnished rim and base fragments, all but two with inked or pencilled reference notations including 'Col' for Colchester, 'GRA' and BLACKFRIARS LEZ/52'. 1.12 kg total, 5.5-13.5 cm



Found UK. From the collection of a late East Anglian teacher and antiquarian who retired to the Isle of Wight in Hampshire, UK. He amassed a large collection of objects between the 1960s-1980s.

Rectangular with two supporting bars to the underside, extended loop above; enigmatic (Greek) letters to all faces. 63.7 grams, 33 mm



with Hotel des Ventes, Drouot, Paris, France. From the collection of Mr H. Naudy, Paris, France. Acquired at between 2004-2010. Property of a French collector.

This small counter-weight bears letters indicating numbers: on one of the short sides Α (1), Δ (4), Χ (600); on the other short side they worn and difficult to read; and on one of the longer sides Υ (400), φ (500). The other letters are challenging to read, but the object would have been used as unit of measure. Another possibility is that it belonged to a statuette of a man holding a codex ansatus (box with a handle for carrying writing tablets).

With vertical spine and peltoid lateral extensions with silvered surface, enamelled annular motif to the centre of each; pin and catchplate to the reverse. 10 grams, 42 mm



UK art market, acquired prior to 1980. Property of a Kent lady collector.