Roman Black Glass Bead Necklace String

Well preserved rectangular tablet inscribed in Roman cursive script on one side, the text documents legal acts in the context of a wedding: first a counter-promise concerning the dowry between the father of the bride together with the bride, Donatilla, on the one hand and the groom on the other; then a gift from the bride's mother to her daughter, a 6 year old young slave girl, the transfer taking the form of a mancipatio with Iulius Rogatianus as scale holder (libripens) and with the involvement of witnesses. 86 grams, 24.5 x 14.2 cm



Acquired by Albert Sfez in the early 1950s. Formerly the property of Monsieur Alain Sfez, a Belgian collector; acquired by gift from his father Albert Sfez, in 1965. Acquired by a London dealer in 1973. From an important London collection since 1975; thence by descent. Accompanied by a copy of a three page illustrated academic report by Professor Dr phil. Peter Rothenhöfer. Accompanied by a collection of four old black and white photographs of the the tablet. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12600-230808. 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.

Professor Dr phil. Peter Rothenhöfer writes: 'Without any doubts this tablet is an original document from Roman times. This unique document not only reflects legal practice in the Roman Empire, but is also of great importance for Social History.'

Standing nude female figure with hair dressed in a chignon, left hand clasped to the chest and right arm bent; mounted on a tiered display stand. 448 grams total, 17.4 cm including stand



Acquired in the late 1980s. Private collection, since the late 1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12862-241687. 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.

The girl is depicted in the act of girding her chest with a fascia, similar to the one illustrated in the famous mosaics of Piazza Armerina, where the band is worn together with a subligaculum that covers her lower parts. It is modelled after a real two-piece bath costume of the ancient Romans.

Group of three gold pendants comprising: two formed as a cluster of granules with three lobes, larger granule to each apex and coiled wire suspension; one of similar profile, larger with filigree lines and coils to both faces, trumpet-shaped finial with loop; two repaired; housed in a custom-made display case. 8.83 grams total, 24-32 mm



Acquired in the late 1980s-early 1990s. Private collection, London, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12812-241415. 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.

Typologically related earrings were particularly common in the Caucasus, where they have been dated by archaeologists to the first centuries A.D. This was mainly a product of Hellenised workers of the area of Pontus or Asia Minor, and the material culture of the Greek cities of the North Pontus region was completely absorbed by their new Roman rulers and largely diffused in style and orientation in the Eastern Roman provinces.