Roman Bronze Ring with Insect Intaglio

Fragment of an elliptical base for a statuary group, with gusset to the forward edge; upper face with two pairs of bare human feet modelled in the half-round, with the left foot of the right pair placed before the right foot of the other pair, suggesting a family group (e.g. parents with baby in their arms) standing very close to each other; mounted on a custom-made stand. 6.2 kg total, 38.5 cm including stand



Pierre Sciclounoff collection, acquired in 1970. Byron Zoumboulakis collection, acquired in 1986. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate, dated 11 August 2004. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12673-234639. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Pierre Sciclounoff was a noted 20th century collector with a particular interest in classical and Near Eastern antiquities. His collection was widely regarded for its scholarly depth and was formed during a period of active collecting in Europe during the post-war decades. Byron Zoumboulakis, a prominent Greek collector and art dealer, is known for his extensive contributions to the art world through the Zoumboulakis Galleries in Athens, established by his family. His collection spans antiquities, modern, and contemporary art, and he has played a key role in promoting cultural heritage in Greece.

A graduated group of mainly oblate beads restrung to a Y-shape. 11.3 grams, 37 cm



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

Private portrait head of a beardless but aged man sculpted in provincial style to be full of character with pinched mouth and furrowed brow; the short hairstyle of the Late Republican Rome; nose abraded; socket to underside for mounting on the display stand. 25.75 kg total, 50 cm including stand



Private collection, Auvergne, France, 1970s. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate no.S00131545. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12477-228801. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

In view of the fact that visual conventions (i.e. the Julian hairstyle) developed in the capital reached the “Romanised” provinces with a certain time lag, this portrait head was probably created in the Late Republican or Early Imperial Period.