Roman Black Glass Bead Necklace String

Gemstone with intaglio advancing lion on a baseline, set into a possibly later gold oval cell with round-section hoop with granule to each shoulder. 4.65 grams, 21.35 mm overall, 17.25 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L, USA 5 3/4, Europe 11.24, Japan 10)



Acquired on the German art market, 1989-1995. with The Museum Gallery, 19 Bury Place, London, WC1, UK, 1998-2003. Property of a London based academic, 2003 to present. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12681-233902. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Hollow-formed sheet gold penannular form with ribbed finial, applied filigree and granule ornament. 11.91 grams, 52 mm



Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

According to Slokoska’s classification, the bracelet belongs to type V, Variant 2 of the bronze bracelets, although this specimen is in gold. Close analogies can be seen on bracelets from the Balkans (Rousse) and from the Tyriataki necropolis in Southern Russia, dated slightly earlier.

The names of high-ranking officers of a Roman legion engraved in two columns in retrograde script, inter alia the Senatorial Commander of a Roman Legion (legatus legionis), two Tribunes and several Centurions being cursed; with holes to fix it to an object with nails, both being magical practices of antiquity aiming for the malediction of enemies; a unique and important document; it has been proposed to identify the legate with Q. Pomponius Rufus, consul in the year A.D. 95. 151 grams total, 87 mm each



Private collection of the gentleman, J.L. Fernández, Switzerland, before 2000. From the private academic collection of Professor P.M.A.R. Accompanied by a copy of the academic paper Rothenhoefer, P., Römische Offiziere auf einer tabella defixionum. Ein außergewöhnliches Dokument magischen Schadenzaubers gegen eine Legionskommandeur und weitere Mitglieder des Offizierskorps, Epigraphica 78, 2016, pp.235-251, where this unique curse tablet is published. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.