Roman Bronze Enamelled Plate Brooch

Of rectangular form, a recess to one face bearing letters in relief 'LEG I ITAL' for First Italic Legion. 1.9 kg, 27 x 12.5 cm



Acquired 1960s-1990s. Late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.

The Legio I Italica ('of Italy') was a Roman legion formed by Nero on September 20, 66 or 67 A.D. and it was active until the 5th-6th century AD. The emblems of the legion were a running boar and sometimes a bull. Troops of this legion appear on Trajan's Column bridging a river. The main camp of the Legio was Novae, modern Bulgaria, but it operated in most of the imperial provinces, including Britain, where a vexillatio fought in the wars of Septimius Severus between 202 and 204 A.D.

The box with a piriform body and hinged lid, three holes to the underside; the face with inset chevron and ring of mosaic glass, high-relief stylised phallus to the centre with enamel panel. 12.2 grams, 42 mm



Acquired in the early 1970s. Ex property of a Surrey, UK, collector.

Of slender form, modelled standing right on a bar, right paw held aloft, stylised face and mane detailing. 104 grams, 84 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.