Roman Bronze Phallic and Fist Fitting

Amphoriskos with flat disc-shaped body, tubular neck with flared rim, two lateral knee-shaped handles to the shoulder. 12.4 grams, 58 mm



Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.

A tall pale green iridescent bottle with bulbous flat bottomed base, tall neck and rolled everted rim. 23 grams, 16.5 cm high



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

Comprising five with round-section bodies and squared terminals; the surfaces decorated with engraved lines and dots. 73 grams total, 63-66 mm



From the family collection of a Surrey gentleman since before 1960.

Bracelets were worn in Rome by ladies of rank, but it was considered a mark of effeminacy for civilian men to use such female ornaments (Suetonius, Caligula, 52; Nero, 30). The armillae (or psellia in Greek) were rings and bracelets worn by women in the Graeco-Roman world on both legs and arms. Homer mentions them (elikas) as being part of the hairstyle of the divine Aphrodite, thus giving an almost sacred character to these objects. There were different types, the most common consisting of a more or less thick metal wire, or a flat or cylindrical circle, like our examples.