Roman Blue Glass Bead Necklace String

Comprising: small figure pierced at the middle wit pellet detailing to face and body, legs spread; figure in active pose with slanting stripes across the body, possibly intended for Hercules; probably votives for deposition at a temple. 42 grams total, 30-47 mm



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.

With slender D-section shank flaring to large lobe terminals, transverse incised lines to the neck, pointillé coiled tendril design. 11.7 grams, 58 mm



Private collection, Arundel, West Sussex, UK, 1975-late 1990s.

Fragment of a terracotta votive statuette representing a ram, detail to the horns, ears and fleece; set with a suspension ring on the reverse. 50 grams, 77 mm wide



Acquired 1960s-1990s. From the late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.

Many figurines of this type have been found in the Hellenised Roman provinces of the east and one identical in the Athenian Agora. They are all rendered with incisions that are characteristic of the technique of the late fourth century. Many similar examples were found in the Kerameikos and some are in the National Museum of Archaeology, Athens. A similar technique is observable in the plastic handles representing animal heads which occur on red pottery ornamented with white paint.