Roman Bronze Eagle on Globe Statuette

With inset jasper gemstone, intaglio profile bust of Minerva (Greek Athena) wearing a crested helmet. 3.39 grams, 21.07 mm overall, 17.61 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L 1/2, USA 6, Europe 11.87, Japan 11)



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman.

Hollow-formed with fine detailing to the fingers and nails; with fixing points for a military standard (signum) used by each unit under a centurion, originally fixed with the palm facing forwards inside a wreath. 718 grams, 21 cm

Generally intact and good defined, except for the lower part.

Acquired in Europe before 2000. European private collection. 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 a search certificate number no.12003-211851.

Roman military signa decorated by phalerae and surmounted by a right hand were used from the Late Consular Age. The hand (manus) symbolised the fides, i.e. the allegiance between the soldiers and the Res Publica. It is also possible that the hand belonged to a statue in which it was extended as a sign of silence, to allow the speaker to speak. However, the iconography of military hands, and also the resemblance with a bronze hand (military signum) preserved in the Vindonissa museum (Windisch), support the possibility that the object was part of a military standard.

Cuboid with rounded edges and corners, ring-and-dot markings disposed 1:2, 3:4, 5:6; with old collector's identification tag '156'. 4.08 grams, 14 mm



Found Wiltshire, UK. From the important private collection of dice and gaming pieces of Colin Narbeth, London, UK, collection no.156.