Roman Bronze Brooch Group

A designer necklace string composed of alternating oblate and barrel-shaped beads; central feature composed of larger beads including a conical and an annular bead, restrung. 13.7 grams, 31 cm



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

In the Roman period there was a strong formal and chromatic diversity of glass beads used for necklaces and bracelets. The most common beads in forms were small biconical (lenticular), barrel-shaped, spherical and annular; the most common colours were dark blue, followed by green and yellow. The succession of glass beads often imitates jewellery made of costly materials (gold, silver, semi-precious and precious stones). Green, blue-green, blue, yellow, and black drawn and rounded glass beads (like here) are late Roman types.

Composed of a cylindrical body with a domed cap to one end, spherical suspension loop with filigree decoration. 0.64 grams, 12 mm



From the collection of a late Japanese collector, 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

This jewel clearly shows the late-Antique taste for elaboration and bright colour which had been evolving since the 3rd century AD. Most of these items were the products of a single workshop, quite possibly in provinces like Britain.

S-shaped La Tène scroll with trumpet and bulb detailing, catch and pin to the reverse. 8.89 grams, 33 mm



From the collection of a Suffolk, UK, gentleman, established from the early 2000s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.