Roman Bronze Lock Fitting with Face

Crescentic mount with keeled body, underside with two pierced lugs. 15.8 grams, 46 mm



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

Well preserved rectangular tablet with a recessed panel to each face; the third and last tablet of a Roman will; both sides inscribed in Roman cursive script using ink and calamus, twenty-one lines of Roman cursive script written within the recess, some text is lost on the right half of both the inner and outer face; on the inner face partially damaged surface; on the other side sixteen lines of cursive script with a half-line at the right edge; two small holes both near the upper and lower rim (for binding the tablets of this document together); the text consists of testamentary dispositions and ends with the obligatory mancipatory formula of Roman testaments; mentioned is a Iulius Fortunatus. 65 grams, 23.5 x 17.6 cm



Acquired by Albert Sfez in the early 1950s. Formerly the property of Monsieur Alain Sfez, a Belgium collector; acquired by gift from his father Albert Sfez, in 1965. Acquired by a London dealer in 1973. From an important London collection since 1975; thence by descent. Accompanied by a copy of an illustrated academic report by Professor Dr phil. Peter Rothenhöfer. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12602-230810.

Professor Dr phil. Peter Rothenhöfer writes: 'Without any doubts this tablet is an original document from Roman times. Because only few Roman testaments have survived this document is of great importance both for Roman Legal and Social History'.

With incised ring-and-dot markings disposed 1:6, 2:5, 3:4. 5.42 grams, 14 mm



From a collection of gaming items, formed 1980-1990s.