Roman Bronze Key

Handle from a twin-bladed triangular razor, in the form of the head and neck of a panther, the head turned backwards, the panther having backwards-pointing ears, the eyes of the animal depicted by a horizontal engraved line within an elongated leaf-shaped moulding, the nose curving downwards and its tip tapering to a rounded end, smooth neck. 5.6 grams, 27 mm

Fine condition.

From a Home Counties collection, formed 1970-1980. From the private collection of John Meredith, acquired since the 1990s; thence by descent. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Composed of mainly oblate beads restrung to a Y-shape. 9.93 grams, 48 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). Green, blue-green, blue, yellow, and black drawn and rounded glass beads (like here) are late Roman types.

Aqua glass cup with squat bell-shaped sidewall, rounded neck, footed base. 15 grams, 90 mm



Ex Mayfair, London, UK, gallery, 1990s-2000s. From an important collection of glass, the property of a London gentleman. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.