Roman Bronze Ring Bezel with Inscription

Carved in the round with collar-length flowing hair; part of a frieze or group. 345 grams, 80 mm



Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. From the family collection of Mr S.A., Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection since the late 1990s.

Standing nude with left leg bent, arms extended, mantle draped from the right shoulder, hair combed forward from the crown; mounted on a custom-made stand. 100 grams total, 10 cm 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.

Despite the lack of specific attributes related to Hermes, the pose of the statue, with the right hand advanced to hold the sacculus, the cloak thrown over the right shoulder and then folded over the left would lean towards an interpretation of the statuette as an ex voto related to the god of thieves. The statuette seems to originate from a Gallo-Roman workshop. A similar drapery on the chest is also found on a Mercury/Hermes in the Museum of Besancon.

Piriform type with open roundel to centre, scalloped edge, traces of blue enamel to plaque; mounted on old Hattatt's collector's stand with typed details 'Roman Britain Piriform Plate Brooc[h] / (very rare shape) / c. 2nd cent. AD / Enamelled bronze / Hinged pin / Found Northumberland' and to reverse 'M.R. Hull's corpus records only one other (with part missing) pl.781, no.2173' and handwritten note below 'Published Hattatt 1985-No.592'. 50 grams total, 85 mm (Brooch: 35 mm)



Found Northumberland. Acquired from Bonhams, London, 29 April 2009, lot 296 (part). From a family collection of a North American gentleman living in the UK.