Roman Black Glass Bead Necklace String

Hollow-formed figure of Hercules resting with his weight on his left arm, cradling his club; lionskin mantle drawn over his head and covering his shoulders, back and thighs; right arm resting on his right thigh, holding a corner of the mantle; scaphoid base with attachment holes; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 4.28 kg total, 25 cm wide 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.

This bronze was probably a chariot decoration. Hercules is represented here in mature age, bearded and with a cap and body covered by the skin of the Nemean Lion, killed in the first of his labours. This kind of image of Hercules was mainly widespread in the second to third century A.D., when emperors like Commodus and Maximianus Herculius identified themselves as the new Hercules at the top of the Roman state.

With chord, spring and pin, and trumpet-shaped headplate: D-section collars and a discoid finial at base of flared foot; articulated pin intact; catchplate projecting from the reverse of the lower bow, curving at the outer edge to house the pin. 39 grams, 60 mm



Acquired in Munich, Germany, in the late 1980s. Ex property of a Staffordshire, UK, gentleman.

Ellipsoid intaglio with bee in plan; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 0.33 grams, 10 mm



Acquired on the London art market in the late 1980s-1990s. From the family collection of an East London, UK, gentleman.