Roman Bronze Figure of an Eagle

A heavy squat unguentarium or perfume flask with tall, trumpet-style neck and everted rim. 20.2 grams, 42 mm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

With slender wire shank formed into a knot for the bezel, blue glass seed beads to the shoulders and a gold collar with applied granule detailing. 0.99 grams, 17.07 mm overall, 15.75 mm internal diameter (approximate size British F 1/2, USA 3, Europe 4.3, Japan 4)



From a late Japanese specialist collector, 1970-2000s.

Comprising four flat-section bracelets with overlapping rounded terminals. 68 grams total, 61-71 mm



From the family collection of a Surrey gentleman since before 1960.

Bracelets were worn in Rome by ladies of rank, but it was considered a mark of effeminacy for civilian men to use such female ornaments (Suetonius, Caligula, 52; Nero, 30). The armillae (or psellia in Greek) were rings and bracelets worn by women in the Graeco-Roman world on both legs and arms. Homer mentions them (elikas) as being part of the hairstyle of the divine Aphrodite, thus giving an almost sacred character to these objects. There were different types, the most common consisting of a more or less thick metal wire, or a flat or cylindrical circle, like our examples.