Roman Bronze Crossbow Brooch Group

A miniature sword-shaped votive or amulet with ribbed guard and knop finial; pierced through the blade. 4.50 grams, 31 mm



Ex property of a North West London gallery; formerly in a 1980s collection.

D-section swept-curve handle, the upper end developing to the foreparts of a winged lion with forelegs bent and paws resting on the vessel's rim, wings folded to the flanks; high-relief foliage detailing to the outer face of the handle; acanthus leaf to the lower end developing to a facing bearded mask of a satyr; mounted on a custom-made stand. 452 grams total, 13 cm high (17 cm high including stand)



Acquired between 1980-1983. From the 'Empire' collection, an important UK private collection of seals.

Usually this type of handles decorated ovoid-shaped oinochoai, a type of vase widespread in Southern Italy. Numerous specimens in the National Museum of Archaeology, Naples present panther or horse protomes, as do some provincial specimens from Gaul. Particular and unusual here is the lion-griffin, which refers to Greek-Egyptian motifs, perhaps connected to the cult of Isis-Serapis.

Comprising two matching solid hoops with expanding shoulders, each set with a dark blue nicolo intaglio, one bearing a profile bust of a young Hercules, and the other with a profile bust of a woman wearing a taenia or a wreath on her head. 12.83 grams total, 20.25 mm overall, 15.50 mm internal diameter (approximate size British G, USA 3 1/4, Europe 4.92, Japan 4) 20.86 mm overall, 16.35 mm internal diameter (approximate size British H, USA 3 3/4, Europe 6.18, Japan 6)



From the private collection of the late A.B., London, UK; acquired before 1989. Accompanied from an archaeological report of Dr. Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12006-213034.

The iconography here is simple, possibly referring to a married couple, or to important public persons. The 5th century Roman writer Macrobius wrote that the engagement ring was worn on the fourth finger. Legend has it that the vena amoris, literally the ‘vein of love’, ran from the heart to the fourth finger of the left hand. Gemstones and fancy embellishments have been found in Roman rings of every age, although usually for engagement or wedding rings the iconography of clasped hands, symbolising the ‘fides’ among the spouses, was used. Intaglio portraits were engraved into a large variety of stones but nicolo, carnelian and red jasper were generally the most popular for imperial portraits or for the members of the imperial family.