Roman Blue Glass Bead Necklace String

Bulbous body with a flaring foot and a tall funicular neck. 59.6 grams, 16.7 cm



From an important London, UK, collection 1980-2020.

This bottle originates from an Eastern workshop; however, the high quality of the glass and the grinding away of the pontil mark suggest a date in the early 3rd century AD.

Comprising an elegantly carved lower part of the calf and foot, a detailed rendering of the toes; the proportions suggesting that the subject was a child or a young woman; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 771 grams total, 15 cm high including stand



Nicolas Koutoulakis (1910-1996), thence by descent. Ex Galerie Dominique Thirion, Brussels, 1990s. Private collection of Mr K.A., France. with Kallos Gallery, London, UK. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.13010-246748.

The foot was a prominent feature on sculptures: more susceptible to weathering and the ravages of time than a head or a torso, the fragments that survive are often badly damaged. It is also possible that this piece belonged to a sculpture created via the acrolith technique, in which the sculptor focused his attention solely on the unclothed parts of the figure, which were made from a more valuable material than the rest of the piece.

Comprising: three rectangular weights, one barrel-shaped with two symbols on one end, and a tabular bifacial plaque with four standing figures on one side and the other with three figures. 72 grams total, 14-22 mm



Acquired on UK art market. Property of a Middlesex gentleman.