Roman Bronze Bust of Athena

A mixed group of two hundred and fifty single tesserae of various colours and sizes, mostly cuboid. 361 grams total, 8-12 mm



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.

Roman mosaics were made from small cubes of natural stone and terracotta possibly cut from tile or brick. Each of these small cubes was called a tessera (plural tesserae) from the Latin word for dice.

Slender hoop with discoid bezel, piecrust design on the outer edge surrounding a zoomorphic motif. 4.88 grams, 24.90 mm overall, 19.78 x 18.85 mm internal diameter (approximate size British S, USA 9, Europe 20, Japan 19)



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

A decorative fitting with roaring mouth and protruding fangs and tongue, the whiskers depicted in raised radiating ridges, with lidded, elongated almond-shaped eyes and small, round ears; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 1.11 kg total, 17.5 cm including stand



with Christie’s, New York, 8 June 2001, no.58. Donati collection, Lugano, prior to 1982. Collection of Banca della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, prior to 1986. Formerly in the Bourgknecht collection, Switzerland. Accompanied by Art Loss certificate no.S00123227.

This head was probably, as was the parallel head of the Barberini Tomb, originally attached to a magnificent bronze cauldron. These large cauldrons of hammered bronze were realised with heads and necks of two lions and two gryphons attached to the rim. The cauldrons were spherical in form and rested on a stand.