Roman Blue Glass and Other Mixed Bead Group

Modelled in relief with openwork elements, stylised detailing to both figures; hollow reverse. 182 grams, 10.2 cm high



Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.

Hollow cast bronze images of Eros riding a lion are linked to the Eastern Levant and have been found for example in Tamna, probably a Roman import. The importance of the long-distance contacts within the Eastern Mediterranean areas was rapidly reflected in provincial artistic styles, probably as soon as in Hellenistic times, at the beginning of the third century B.C., possibly even earlier. The unquestionable Greek influence led a number of scholars to define three main styles for the bronzes discovered in the eastern Roman provinces: a local type and iconography locally produced, Greek or Roman imports, and Oriental, Hellenistic, or Roman style, locally produced.

Comprising six polished discoid counters and a single dice, the latter configured: 1:6; 2:5; 3:4 in punched ring-and-dot markers. 8 grams total, 7-18 mm



Found Billingsgate spoil from the Thames foreshore, London, UK.

Comprising a shallow U-section curved head and rectangular handle folded at the top to create a suspension loop to reverse; repaired. 50 grams, 23.5 cm



Acquired on the German art market around 2000. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.