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LOT 0714
Roman Bronze Dolphin Brooch
CIRCA 2ND CENTURY A.D.
1 3/8 in. (7.89 grams, 36 mm).
With deep curved bow, dorsal fin to the apex and fantail footplate, hinged pin. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceProperty of the vendor's grandfather, thence by family descent, circa 1985.
From the private collection of a New York, USA gentleman.
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AUCTIONS:
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Late Roman Silver 'Huntsman' Bow Brooch
5th-7th century A.D.Estimate: £1,800 - 2,400 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £1,000
Comprising a circular headplate with pointillé tendril ornament, and three radiating lugs, each with a flared collar below; deep D-section bow with boar-head modelling including open mouth and tusks, bristles and pricked ears; parallel-sided chamfered edges, recurved finial with dog-head detailing and teardrop dangle in the mouth; spring and pin to the reverse. 28 grams, 65 mm
with Artemis Gallery, Münich, before 1998. Acquired by the present owner from the above in 2001. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12226-222179.
As the boar's mouth is modelled open, it is likely that it also had a dangle similar to that of the dog's head. The artistic effect of the brooch is to symbolise the chase, with the boar fleeing and the hound in close pursuit behind. This kind of fibula was used by the Romano-British people of Britannia, as attested by specimens found in Britain (BM inventory no.PRB 1954.12-6.1). -
Roman Green Glass Vessel
4th-5th century A.D.Estimate: £150 - 200 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £83
Transparent pale green with bulbous body, rounded lip, flared neck and concave base. 48 grams, 11 cm
Ex London, UK, collection, 1980-1990s.
The small bottle can be associated with the Isings form 104b. There are some parallels from graves at Beit Ras, Jordan and Samaria-Sebaste. Some models of the type have faint ribs. -
Large Roman Bronze Staff Finial with Bust of Serapis
Circa 2nd century A.D.Estimate: £50,000 - 70,000 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £22,222
With luxuriant long wavy hair and characteristic vertical locks at the forehead, full beard with two large ringlets below the chin, wearing a chiton and a himation draped over the left shoulder, the head surmounted by a corn modius decorated with olive branch in relief, the bust supported on the back of an eagle standing atop an orb with spread wings, the eagle with its head slightly turned to the left, the feathers finely detailed; a finial from a staff or a ceremonial standard; repaired. 1.4 kg, 29.5 cm high
Repaired.
Ex private collection, South Germany, 1980. with Gorny and Mosch, Munich, 13 December 2003, no.74. with Christie's, New York, 8 June 2012, no.239 (US $120,000-180,000). Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11789-206489.
The Emperor Septimius Severus (193-211 A.D.) modelled many of his portraits based on Serapis. But it was under Hadrian that the refurbishment of the statue in the Serapeum increased the demand for small-scale images, like this one, probably made during his reign and used atop of a processional sceptre or standard for the cult of the god.