Roman Bronze Appliqué with Athena and Gorgon

Formed as two narrow D-section arms with transverse ribbing and impressed point ornament. 4.35 grams, 59 mm



From a private Tyneside collection, formed since the early 2000s.

Sheet-bronze two-part pyxis with carinated sidewall to the base, lid with reserved octofoil on a pounced field, concentric pointillé rings; working hinge mechanism. 64 grams, 86 mm



Acquired in the 1990s. 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.

Although pyxides were originally made of wood, as their name suggests, the term soon came to refer, in the Graeco-Roman world, to round containers used for both medicinal and domestic purposes. From the time of the Achaeans to the end of the Roman Empire, we find pyxides made of horn, ivory, bronze, silver, and gold. Women used them to store their ointments, makeup, and toiletries. A pyxis used for medical purposes was called a loculus, while the name pyxidicula designated a container for eye drops, and a tripuxium was a pyxis containing extracts from three different containers.

Of fusiform type with a rolled lip and thick rounded bottom; iridescent surface. 198 grams total, 16.2 cm including stand



From an important collection of glass, London, UK, 1990s.