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LOT 0758
Roman Bronze Key
1ST-4TH CENTURY A.D.
2 3/8 in. (33.9 grams, 59 mm).
Comprising a broad ring and cranked shank, bits cut into the leading edge of the ward. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceEx London, UK, gentleman 1980-1990s.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
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AUCTIONS:
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Roman Green Glass Necklace Bead String
2nd-3rd century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £91
Restrung group of mainly spherical and biconical glass beads. 10.4 grams, 40 cm
Acquired from Coincraft, London, UK. From the private collection of Kenneth Machin (1936-2020), Buckinghamshire, UK; his collection of antiquities and natural history was formed since 1948; thence by descent. Accompanied by a Coincraft certificate of authenticity. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Roman Silver Spoon Property of the God Faunus Cranus
4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,640
Shallow oval bowl with a coiled handle and a duck or swan head facing outwards, Latin inscription 'DEIFAVNI CRANI', '(Property) of the god Faunus Cranus’. 32 grams, 91 mm
UK private collection, 1990s. with Artemission, London, UK. Private collection, London, UK. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Professor Dr phil. Peter Rothenhöfer writes: 'In RIB the inscription is categorized as 'religious dedication'; this must be rejected as we would expect the Dative case: deo Fauno ... - for the god Faunus ... But we read the genitive case: dei Fauni Crani: (property of) the God Faunus Cranus. This indicates that all these spoons were used (or intended to be used) during religious ceremonies (connected with meals) probably in a sanctuary of Faunus Cranus. The use of deus (= god) and the Celtic epitheton Cranus indicates a provincial cult with strong indigenous elements.' -
Roman Green Glass Bead Necklace String
1st-4th century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £33
Composed of mixed graduated beads with larger beads as a central feature; restrung. 19.3 grams, 40.5 cm
From the London, UK, art market in the 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
In the Roman period there was a strong formal and chromatic diversity of glass beads used for necklaces and bracelets. The most common beads in forms were small biconical (lenticular), barrel-shaped, spherical and annular; the most common colours were dark blue, followed by green and yellow. The succession of glass beads often imitates jewellery made of costly materials (gold, silver, semi-precious and precious stones).
