Roman Bronze Bust of Mars Appliqué

With raised central boss and peripheral discs with red enamel alternating with openwork loops; the body with a double band of blue, white and red enamelling, separated by ropework bands; remains of pin hinge and catchplate to the reverse; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 61 grams total, 56 mm including stand



From a private New Jersey collection, 1960-1985. with Artemis Gallery, Colorado, USA, 8 March 2016, no.45. Private American collection, New York, USA.

A similar brooch is preserved in the Colchester Museum, and similarly decorated brooch discs are visible in the British Museum and have been found in Chesterholm, Vindolanda and Chepstow. It is a Roman provincial type used by military personnel and their families.

With a triple ropework band, broad shoulders with openwork spirals increasing in size towards the centre; raised circular bezel with twisted wire border, set with a glass cabochon. 5.00 grams, 23.01 mm overall, 16.99 x 16.87 mm internal diameter (approximate size British K, USA 5 1/4, Europe 9.95, Japan 9)



From a private European collection, since 1975. with Christie's, London, 14 April 2011, no.361 (part). Ex New York, USA, collection. Accompanied by a copy of the relevant Christie's catalogue pages. Accompanied by an old cataloguing slip.

Comprising a shallow discus framed by concentric lines, low-relief image of a standing male reaching for a bowl with his right hand whilst supporting himself by grasping a low pillar with his left hand, filling hole flanking the pillar; volute to each side of the nozzle; maker's mark 'SVRIEPII'. 80 grams, 10.5 cm



Acquired on the European art market, 1980s. English private collection.

The period of activity of several well-known workshops—L M A D I E C , L M V N S V C , E R O T I S , G A B M E R C , and L M S V —is late Flavian to Trajanic, possibly Hadrianic.Based on this, we will not refer to the broader and too approximate dating given by Bailey to his group IV: Claudian to Trajanic.