Roman Bronze Fish Weight

Formed as two addorsed heads with a short cylindrical neck and flaring mouth; both heads with abundant hair framing the face. 57 grams, 99 mm high



Formerly in North American collection, 1990s. Ex Lyon and Turnbull, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Composed of a pelta-shaped pendant (lunula) attached to a drop hanger decorated with concentric circles, the central one with remains of light blue and crimson enamel. 5.79 grams, 60 mm



Found Yorkshire, UK, in 2022. Property of a Yorkshire gentleman.

Horse harness pendants were often characterised by lunulae (small moons, i.e. pelta-shaped artefacts) and drop hangers. They were decorated with enamels of different colours.

Comprising a square-section tapering body with lateral stub arms; head of Mercury (Greek Hermes) above with applied twisted gold collar, low-relief shoulder panels, genitals modelled in the round, low-relief horned figure below. 27 grams, 52 mm



Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. From the family collection of Mr S.A., Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection since the late 1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12103-218207.

This object, was likely votive and perhaps belonged to a small domestic altar of the Roman imperial era, reproduced in miniature size a Hermaic pillar. These were terminals made of stone or wood which were often placed on the roads, near crossings; they served to indicate the right path and therefore were supposed to protect travellers when travelling. In Roman times, these pillars were often topped with busts or portraits and were also found in the gardens of wealthy homes; gods (Hermes and Bacchus in particular) or philosophers were the subjects thus represented.