Roman Bronze Appliqué in the Shape of an Actor's Mask

Fragments of wall plaster with rendered surface painted with mainly red, pale blue and white detailing; some with impression of timber laths to the reverse. 1.76 kg total, 6.5-17.5 cm



Acquired in the 19th century. Ex Jeger collection, Switzerland. UK gallery, early 2000s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

These small fragments, for analogies with the fragments of Pompeii, seem to belong to the second style of Roman painting, red panels representing highlight and shadow, decorated with vegetal interlaces. Some panels were probably framed by a red grenade fillet. A fragment shows alternate blue and red colour over a cream background, maybe pertinent to a socle.

The goddess of love rising from the sea, standing nude and bearing the weight on her right leg; her head turned to the right and looking down, finely worked facial detailing with marked eyelids and shallow pupils; the bountiful hair tied back in a low chignon with six long ringlets falling on her shoulders, wearing a diadem; a narrow sash wrapped around her back, holding one end pressed against her left breast and the coiled end held in her right hand; standing on a pedestal base. 281 grams total, 16.5 cm high including stand



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12747-236332. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The goddess is depicted in the act of girding her chest with a fascia, similar to the one illustrated in the famous mosaics of Piazza Armerina, where the band is worn together with a subligaculum that covers her lower parts. It is modelled after a real two-piece bath costume of the ancient Romans.

Discoid in plan with low-relief facing bust. 4.75 grams, 16 mm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.