Roman Bone Pin with Bust

Globular body decorated with circumferential banding, low foot, conical neck with pinched spout, strap handle to the rear. 395 grams, 18.5 cm



Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s.

With narrow basal ring and curved sidewall, carinated and flared rim. 43.69 grams, 75 mm



Aquired Christie's, London, Antiquities, Works of Art and Important Renaissance Bronzes, Plaquettes and Limoges Enamels, 8 July 1981, no.12 (part). From a private Wiltshire, UK, collection. Accompanied by a copy of the relevant Christie's catalogue pages.

The third and last tablet of a Roman will made by Iulius Pomp(onius?), parts of lost surface on the inner face, two small holes both at the upper and lower rim (for binding the tablets of this document together); on the inner face the recess inscribed with twenty-one lines of Roman cursive script consisting of testamentary dispositions regarding a special category of fields (gemiones), ending with the mancipatory formula of Roman testaments; on the outer face two sulci and signatures of witnesses. 106 grams, 20.2 x 16.2 cm



Acquired by Albert Sfez in the early 1950s. Formerly the property of Monsieur Alain Sfez, a Belgium collector; acquired by gift from his father Albert Sfez, in 1965. Acquired by a London dealer in 1973. From an important London collection since 1975; thence by descent. Accompanied by a copy of an illustrated academic report by Professor Dr phil. Peter Rothenhöfer. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12601-230811.

Professor Dr phil. Peter Rothenhöfer writes: 'Without any doubts this tablet is an original document from Roman times. Because only few Roman testaments have survived this document is of great importance both for Roman Legal and Social History'.