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LOT 0137
Roman Bronze Head Mount of Oceanus
1ST-2ND CENTURY A.D.
3 1/4 in. (68.2 grams total, 83 mm including stand).
Bust of Oceanus in high-relief, hollow to the reverse, with flowing hair and beard, large lentoid eyes and broad nose, with crab/lobster claws emerging from his locks; mounted on a custom-made stand. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceIdentified by the British Museum as depicting Oceanus on 8th January 1996.
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.
Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum letter dated 8th January 1996.
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AUCTIONS:
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Roman Silver Ring with Hound Gemstone
Late 2nd-early 3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
With broad rounded plaque and stud gemstone, jasper intaglio advancing hound on a baseline. 9.84 grams, 24.22 mm overall, 16.72 mm internal diameter (approximate size British I, USA 4 1/4, Europe 7.44, Japan 7)
Private collection, England. -
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Roman Tabular Lead Weight Collection
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
Square in plan, some with incised markings, one with impressed hole. 95 grams total, 8-25 mm
Ex Simmons gallery, London, UK. From a North London collection, 1990s. -
Roman Historic Cut & Polished Porphyry Slice Group
1st-5th century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £234
Comprising three lacquered porphyry slices of rectangular shape, cut on both faces and polished on one face; probably from recycled material mined in ancient Roman times between the 1st and 5th century A.D.; intended for use as inlay panels. 82.8 grams total, 7.2-10.1 cm
From Egypt. Ex Mineral Imports, London, UK. Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd (Gregory's).
Mons Porphyrites (today Jabal Abu Dukhkhan) is the mountainous site of a group of ancient quarries in the Red Sea Hills of the inhospitable eastern desert in Egypt, a five day trip from the Nile during Roman times. They were discovered by Caius Cominus Leugas in 18 A.D., and during the Roman Empire the mines officially belonged to the emperor and were the only known source of the Imperial Porphyry, Mons Porphyrites. This dark purple stone was associated with royalty and used for prestigious sculpture and architecture. The location of the mines was lost some time in the 5th century, and rediscovered in the early 19th century. Excavations in the area have revealed the well-preserved quarries and the dwelling places of the quarry men, and also thousands of ostraca have been discovered containing messages that provide details of how the quarrying took place, and of how the highly skilled quarrymen ordered their food.
