Roman Bone Gaming Piece Bar

Comprising half of the upper part of a tunica manicata in light fabric, S-twist tapestry, ornamented with dark purple clavi with orbiculi and tablia, wool over linen; mounted in fabric backing and perspex display frame. 7.7 kg total, mount: 1.64 m



Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.

The tunic is decorated in purple with opus phrygium embroidery. The archaeological evidence from the dry desert cemeteries of Egypt offers striking confirmation of pictorial sources about late Roman clothing around the empire.

Slender hoop with raised discoid bezel bearing a zoomorphic motif. 6.15 grams, 24.44 mm overall, 19.69 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q, USA 8, Europe 17.49, Japan 16)



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

With incuse profile female bust with copious tiered curls and braids, palla to the shoulder; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 3.06 grams, 21 mm



Ex London, UK, gentleman, 1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13002-244442.

Julia Domna (170-217 A.D.) was one of the most honoured imperial women in the course of the Principate. Almost 600 inscriptions bear her name; numerous coin types portray her together with the emperors; important artworks where she is depicted (such as the Kassel Cameo, the Arch of the Argentarii and the Severan Arch in Leptis Magna) demonstrate that she occupied no secondary position in the Severan regime. She appears, consequently, to be a key figure of this period.