Roman Bronze Candelabrum Base with Dolphins

With openwork monogram in Latin letters, ('R'+'M'+'A', with the 'O' represented by the circular plan of the brooch itself), a palindrome 'AMOR'; complete with pin. 13.86 grams, 35 mm



Acquired on the German art market around 2000s. From the collection of an EU gentleman living in the UK.

The brooch is composed of the stylised letters ‘RMA’. When viewed from the obverse RMA + the circle of the brooch form a monogram for ‘Roma’. Roma refers to both the city and its divine personification, the Dea Roma. But if RMA is read from right to left (or the brooch is viewed from the opposite side), the letters display a monogram for ‘AMOR’, the Latin name for Cupid, the god of love. The phrase pertains to Roma-Amor, a widely recognised palindrome espousing Roman wordplay in the ancient times.

Modelled in the round with naturalistic detailing to the head and face, attacking another animal, possibly a handle attachment. 19.3 grams, 48 mm



‘The Ancient Menagerie Collection’ formerly the property of a Cambridgeshire lady, collected since the 1990s and acquired from auctions and dealers throughout Europe and the USA, now ex London collection.

Fragment or portion of floor mosaic, showing a composition of alternated patterns of different coloured squares in chequerboard pattern, combined in diagonal rows of light yellow, light blue, off-white, pink, red, light violet, again off-white, light grey, light grey, dark grey, off-white, light yellow (repeated two times) light blue and off-white shadows; on the lower part a red line is edging the composition over an off-white band. 82.5 kg, 156 cm wide including frame



Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11822-207409.

The square-decorated mosaics had a strong presence in the Hispanic provinces, with some 1st century A.D. examples in the houses of Ampurias, up to the late imperial examples of the Villa of Palencia (archaeological site of La Tejada) where the main rooms show wall paintings with geometric, vegetal or decorations imitating marbles, and mosaics with simple geometric decorations alternating with elegant decorative motifs such as swastikas, chequered motifs or ropes, and Solomonic symbols. The chequerboard motif was widespread, and it is visible also in the 3rd-4rd century mosaic of the Roman Villa of Brading or in the house found under the Museum of Lincoln, in Britain.