Roman Bronze Mirror with Handle

Carved in high-relief, a high-status female wearing a palla with a loosely draped stola draped from the left shoulder and arm and drawn across the hips; the left forearm resting on the head of a figure of Venus on a socle base, socket to accept separately carved left hand (absent); mounting sockets to neck and right hip; plain to the reverse; mounted on a custom-made stand. 23 kg total, 55.5 cm including stand



Private collection, England. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12228-215645.

Modelled in the round as a figure of an eagle perching with its head turned to the right; on its back, the god Mercury with caduceus on his left arm and petasos on his head; mounted on a custom-made stand. 63.3 grams total, 68 mm including stand



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 figure of the messenger-god Mercury seated on the pinion of the eagle possibly relates to a mythic incident. Similar imagery was used in respect of Jupiter in scenes where the god was supposed to welcome a newly-deified emperor into the pantheon: see Metropolitan Museum of Art accession no. 32.142.2, for a sardonyx instance of this motif.

Comprising a slender stem with collar and baluster above the attachment loop; perching bird finial with incised plumage detailing. 28 grams, 18.5 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.