Roman Bronze Mask Appliqué

Comprising an oval cell with an applied suspension loop and three coiled drops below; set with a garnet cabochon engraved with a winged figure of the goddess Victoria (Victory), wearing a plumed helmet and holding arrows in her extended hand; stone cracked. 4.59 grams, 34 mm



Acquired from Royal Athena Gallery. From a major London, UK, collection, 1970s. Ex property of a North London, UK, gentleman. Accompanied by a previous catalogue information slip.

The winged goddess of victory not only represented a specific deity, but for the Romans she was the symbol of Rome's invincibility. She was not only the emperor's permanent companion but his guarantee for his success in military campaigns. For this reason she was frequently represented on monuments, standards and on coins, gems and statuettes.

With a lug handle and oval elongated body, two central filling-holes flanking the image of a kantharos, enclosed within a decorative shallow border on the shoulders with alternating floral S’s, concentric circles and quatrefoils; two thin concentric circles on the base with letter B in the middle, possibly the potter’s mark. 226 grams, 14.5 cm



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.

The lamp belongs to the type Atlante X or Hayes II A. The so-called Christian lamps in Terra Sigillata Africana have been classified by Hayes into two major types, I and II. He has distinguished two classes in his type II, according to geographic place of manufacture or origin. Subtype II A group lamps from central Tunisia are characterised by a fine clay, glossy light orange slip, and carefully executed decoration using a great number of neatly drawn shoulder motifs. The kantharos is a fairly common motif in Early Christian imagery, as a container of life giving water.

From the yoke of a chariot comprising a D-section ring, collar and knop-ended crescents, broad pierced lateral flanges. 365 grams, 16.5 cm



Reputed to have been excavated near Viables in Hampshire at the end of the 19th century. From the estate of the late Jennifer Simmonds. Acquired from Jacobs & Hunt auctioneers, Petersfield, Hampshire, UK.