Roman Bronze 'Colchester Type' Bow Brooch Collection

The hoop formed with dolphin-head shoulders supporting an openwork tiered bezel with four outward-facing dolphins on a disc, their tails joining to form a tube with inset garnet cloison; possibly originally a key-ring with the tune forming a mandrel. 7.13 grams, 31.06 mm overall, 19.89 mm internal diameter (approximate size British N, USA 6 1/2, Europe 13.72, Japan 13)



Ex Cotswold collection, UK, 1990s. Accompanied by a copy of a statement of opinion from Striptwist Ltd, a London-based company run by precious metal specialist Dr Jack Ogden, reference number 221202.

Nozzle with quasi-volutes, theatrical mask surrounding the central opening; ring-handle with palmette attachment; base moulded. 220 grams, 13.3 cm



Acquired from Weber, Kohl. Ex private collection, Rhemish, Germany. with Gorny & Mosch, 14 December 2010, lot 499. Private collection, Europe. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11800-206492.

The principal parts of a lamp were the body or reservoir which contained the oil (infundibulum); the flat circular top (discus) on which the design, if any, was placed, sometimes with an ornamented rim (margo), the nozzle, with a hole for the insertion of the wick (rostrum, nasus, myxus), the wick, known as ellydinium, the handle (ansa, manubrium).

Grooved lug handle to rear, discus with two filling holes and a central rosette motif, foliate border to the shoulder; low basal ring and maker's mark 'E'. 173 grams, 11.5 cm



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

Many lamps of this category (late lamps of Asia Minor types, sometimes just called 'late Ephesian lamps' but diffused in all of the Roman Levant) were discovered in the Seven Sleepers Cemetery at Ephesus. These lamp types have either a circular or an oval elongated body that is sharply carinated, with protruding nozzle. The shoulders are outward sloping and offer a variety of characteristic decorations in both relief and sunken patterns: rows of globules, slanted radiating grooves, ovolos, vine-tendrils and grapes, tongues or petals, and concentric rings.