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LOT 0812
Roman Bone Gaming Dice Pair
1ST-4TH CENTURY A.D.
3/8 in. (4.57 grams total, 10-11 mm).
Each a cuboid with ring-and-dot markings disposed 1:6, 2:5, 3:4. [2, No Reserve]
ProvenanceEx German art market, 2000s.
Acquired from an EU collector living in London.
From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.
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AUCTIONS:
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Roman Red Ware Platter Fragment with Ship and Figures
Circa 3rd-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
A thick rim fragment from a shallow platter showing an oneraria ship with open sails and two profile heads facing right, a nude figure at the centre in a dynamic pose, wearing a cloak and gazing back towards another figure. 50 grams, 11.6 cm
From the private collection of Mr Brian Edwards, New Malden, Surrey, UK, formed from the late 1970s-early 1980s; thence by descent. Accompanied by the original collector's data sheet with reference no.A57. -
Roman Carnelian Gemstone with Eagle
2nd-3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
With intaglio eagle perching with a wreath in its beak; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 0.82 grams, 12.58 mm
From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s. -
Historic Roman Cut and Polished Roman Imperial Purple Porphyry Section
Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,170
Comprising a triangular piece, cut and polished on several sides, probably recycled material mined in ancient Roman times between the 1st and 5th centuries A.D.; mounted on a custom-made metal display stand. 5.97 kg total, 38 cm including stand
Acquired on the UK art market since the 1990s. From the private collection of a Somerset gentleman.
Mons Porphyrites (today Jabal Abu Dukhkhan) is the mountainous site of a group of ancient quarries in the Red Sea Hills of the inhospitable eastern desert in Egypt, a five-day trip from the Nile during Roman times. They were discovered by Caius Cominus Leugas in 18 A.D., and during the Roman Empire, the mines officially belonged to the emperor and were the only known source of the Imperial Porphyry, Mons Porphyrites. This dark purple stone was associated with royalty and used for prestigious sculpture and architecture. The location of the mines was lost sometime in the 5th century and rediscovered in the early 19th century. Excavations in the area have revealed the well-preserved quarries and the dwelling places of the quarrymen, and also thousands of ostraca have been discovered containing messages that provide details of how the quarrying took place, and of how the highly skilled quarrymen ordered their food.
