Roman Bronze Bell Group

With collared onion-knop finials, keeled deep bow and short chamfered foot; pin in situ. 56 grams, 86 mm



Acquired in Switzerland, 1997. Private collection, Europe. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The typology of the so-called crossbow fibulae was used mainly among the military (militia armata), but was also employed by members of the ‘unarmed’ civil administration (militia non armata). They can be differentiated by their material of construction, which reflected the status of the wearer. The crossbow fibulae developed mainly between the end of the 3rd and the beginning of the 4th century A.D. Seven distinct types can be identified, based on size, decoration, material, etc. The more massive ones, usually in bronze, are usually pertinent to the 3rd and 4th centuries, and correspond to types 1 to 4 (here type 2).

Hollow-formed shank, integral plaque with inset glass disc, low-relief Eros face in three-quarter view. 2.35 grams, 21.19 mm overall, 15.00 mm internal diameter (approximate size British D 1/2, USA 2, Europe 1.78, Japan 1)



Acquired in 1992. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Restrung group of spherical, oblate, biconical and other beads. 21.8 grams, 33.5 cm



Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.