Roman Bronze Ram Statuette

The oval intaglio engraved with the bird facing, flanked by two opposing cornucopiae. 0.65 grams, 13 mm



Acquired in the late 1980s-early 1990s. Important North West London collection.

According to Greek mythology, the cornucopia was the horn lost by the Achelous river in the fight with Hercules for Deianeira and filled by the Naiads with flowers and fruit as a symbol of abundance, thus alluding to the fertility of the valley where the Achelous flowed. The owl, symbol of Athena, flanked by cornucopiae, evoked the abundance asked from the goddess by the wearer of the gemstone.

The oval intaglio showing Serapis holding a sceptre and wearing a modius upon his head; Isis, wearing a feather(?) headdress and holding a sistrum. 2.51 grams, 18 mm



Acquired in the late 1980s-early 1990s. Important North West London collection.

Serapis was known to the Greek and Roman world already in the 3rd century B.C. in Alexandria, where Ptolemy I built a serapeum in honour of the god. The name of the god is considered to be composed from the names Osiris and Apis bull and means 'Osiris the bull' since after his death he became the ruler of the outer world, while it was also believed that Osiris lived in the world through Apis. Isis, his spouse, was worshipped in the Roman Empire as a powerful divinity, mother of the gods.

With three extendable legs each topped with bust of Bacchus, his long hair collected in a crown of vine leaves and branches, wearing a panther skin exomis; the feet formed as feline paws; the middle part of the frontal leg formed as an S-curve topped with a panther's head with open jaws. 9.9 kg, 101 cm

Traces of gilding over all the whole surface, fine condition, restored, excessively rare.

Ex collection of Dr Djafari (1900-1981), Kaiserslautern, Germany. 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.11801-206499.

Folding tripod stands were well known in the ancient world, in both Greek and Roman contexts. These folding supports for tables, bracers and cauldrons are known finds from important excavations in the Roman world, like Pompeii. The purpose of such folding stands varied: during the meal they were placed between the triclinary beds, and bowls and application plates were hung to the hooks at the back of the holders, here shaped like the heads of a Bacchus. They were also used for the fire in military encampments, or in the temples of the gods. Others were used as the support frames for bronze bowls, either for washing or for ritual purposes. Many were offered as funerary gifts, like the splendid example in the chariot grave of Környe. Roman folding tripods were also used in religious rituals (here clearly linked to the cult of the god of wine, as shown by the presence of panthers) and sacrifices. Burnt offerings and libations were offered to the gods in cauldrons that would have been attached to the hooks behind the heads on the upper section.