Roman Bronze Lioness Figure

Broad squat vessel with flat inturned rim, curved round-section handle with median collars, attachment plates formed as leaves and profile beast-heads; shallow basal ring. 1.97 kg, 33.5 cm wide



German private collection, 1980s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.201190.

Comprising: a bowl with incised geometric decoration; a rectangular palette with bevelled edges; knife with single-edged iron blade and decoratively incised pommel; spoon with circular bowl, collared stem with expanded waist and finial formed as a probe; pin with tapering round-section body, shallow conical finial and decoratively incised head; a scoop probe with remains of elongated shallow scoop, expanded neck with collars, slender ribbed stem and bulbous probe to terminal; scoop with leaf-shaped bowl and balustered stem. 332 grams total, 4.8-17 cm



Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.

From the upper part of the vessel, displaying a frieze of profile busts and figural scenes within roundels, winged Victory holding a wreath and standing on globe between the roundels; the central roundel with Sol Invictus and a sun chariot. 155 grams, 18.5 cm



Acquired 1960s-1990s. From the late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.

This terra sigillata fragment appears to have been part of a large tray, celebrating the imperial triumph of an early 4th century emperor, possibly Constantine or a member of his family such as Crispus. The combination of triumphal symbols (palms, quadriga, radiated crown) with imperial figures is typical of the tetrarchy and early Constantinian era, where elements of dying paganism were still used to celebrate imperial glory. Note the detailed late Roman clothing, with a closed chlamys-paludamentum on the right shoulder and, in the profile figure, a thorax with hemispherical shoulder protections.