Roman Bone Spindle Whorl Collection

Penannular in profile with hatching to the outer face. 26 grams, 69 mm



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

Fragment from a hollow-formed monument comprising a left hand holding the base of a cross fleury with hexagonal cross-section; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 1.97 kg total, 32.6 cm high including stand



Ex Arthur Richter (1925-2018), California, USA. Private collection, England. 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 search certificate number no.13084-249671.

Here, the hand of what was once a colossal statue of a general or emperor brandishes an object that may be a cross, or the hilt of a commander's sword (parazonium). These monumental bronzes belong to the late period of the Empire, when the image of the victorious emperor or general was intended as propaganda demonstrating military strength, despite the Empire being surrounded by external enemies and devastated by internal strife.

Incuse image of a palm tree with splayed fronds, ladder placed against the trunk, and a man with a basket ascending to pick the fruit; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 0.71 grams, 12 mm



Private English collection, formed between the late 1970s and early 1990s. Private collection, London, UK.