Roman Bronze Fish Weight

Standing erect with right hand extended sideways, left arm hanging at his side supporting a caduceus; mounted on a custom-made stand. 48 grams total, 89 mm including stand



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.

Although the statuette seems have been realised in a provincial Gallo-Roman workshop, as demonstrated by the inequality of the treatment of the anatomical dimensions, the movement of the body and head positioned to the right, derive from models of the Alexandrian type.

Carved in the half-round wearing flat-topped priest's cap with laurel wreath detailing and medallion, naïve facial features with exaggerated lentoid eyes and soft modelled cheeks and mouth; mounted on a custom-made stand. 7.5 kg total, 26.5 cm including stand



Previously in the private collection of Mr Pierre Bart (1889-1964), an official of the French Mandate in Syria and Lebanon (1919-1936), and delegate to the Lebanese government until 1946. Thence by descent in 1964 to his daughter Lucienne Amirault who brought the inherited collection with her to France from Beirut on 11th October 1976. Accompanied by inventory list from 11 October 1976. Accompanied by a copy of a previous six page catalogue document. Accompanied by a copy of a signed Art Loss Register declaration no.S00218486. Accompanied by French cultural passport no.233598. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12399-225440.

Ellipsoid in plan with intaglio profile female bust. 0.41 grams, 9 mm



From the collection of a London, UK, gentleman, 1970s onwards.