Roman Bronze Phallic Pendant

Modelled in the round as a facing female, semi-naturalistic facial detailing and dressed hair; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 31.4 grams total, 55 mm including stand



with Arte Classica, Lugano, prior 2000. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate no.S00043014. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Some Roman metal hair pins had human figures as finials (Cool, sub-group A, p.168). Bone pin finials carved as female busts were relatively common in Britannia (see for example finds from Londinium or Rutupiae). Metal pins with human figures were rare, though where they occur they tended to be made in the late Roman period, such a similar example recovered in the Vermand area. The treatment of figures varied greatly, including 'Celtic' looking faces and 'Venus' types. This great diversity of treatment clearly suggests that these pins were the occasional products of a wide variety of workshops.

Formed as a lady's right hand with thumb and forefinger extended to hold a grape; iron shank to the wrist. 157 grams, 10.1 cm



Ex Cambridgeshire, UK, collection, 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

With oblong tesserae in matrix, mainly blue-grey in colour on the exposed faces but pale grey to the underside. 289 grams, 91 mm



Found Thuburbo Majus, Tunisia, North Africa. Imported to the UK before 1945. From a private old collection formed in the mid 20th century. Ian Wilkinson collection, Nottinghamshire, UK, formed since 1985. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.