Roman Bronze Bowl Mount with Face

Scaraboid type with incuse design to the underside of an elephant with stars above; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 3.04 grams, 17 mm



From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s.

The Romans first encountered elephants in Pyrrhos' army, and the representation of elephants in Roman Art begins from this period. Victorious Emperors like Caesar and Vespasian celebrated elephants on their coins. Apart from the celebration of elephants as ‘war machines’, the image of elephants was linked to other aspects in the Roman Imperial Period. Before becoming emperor, Elagabalus was one of the priests of Helios-Sun worship in Emesa. He had elephant depictions on his coins during his reign. The elephants raise their heads to the sun when the sun rises. Thus, sun is represented on the gemstone together with the elephant.

Mixed group of rings comprising: a D-section ring; a ring with angled shoulders and raised circular bezel; a ring with slender hoop and bezel set with a blue intaglio with two figures; a large ring with rectangular bezel with '1888' with a cross above; a ring with large rectangular bezel with faint remains of an inscription; a ring with forked shoulders and the bezel set with a dark green glass intaglio with a low-relief image of a doe before a tree; a ring with an oval pale orange carnelian intaglio bearing an inscription. 32 grams total, 19-28 mm



From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s.

Comprising a thick, elongated body with lateral testes, thin suspension loop above. 7.9 grams, 29 mm



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