Roman Bronze Ring with Merman

Of piriform shape with everted rim, gently chamfered upper lip and concave underside; lid with bevelled rim, gently dished upper face rising to a central dome and cylindrical handle with piecrust pleats; iridescent surfaces. 831 grams total, 29.5 cm high



Ex Sangiorgi collection, acquired in the 19th century. with Christie's, 3 June 1999, lot 121. The remains of a 19th/early 20th century label can be seen on the glass on one side. with Christie's, New York, 9 December 1999, lot 476. American private collection, Westchester, New York, acquired in 1999. with Bonhams, London, 30 September 2015, lot 91. 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 no.203222.

A similar jar in the British Museum was found in Warwick Square, London, inside a lead canister, and was originally filled with bone ashes. The Romans often re-used glass jars, originally made for storing liquids and foodstuffs, as cremation vessels, but this kind of jar seems too fragile and was therefore probably purpose-made. The lead canister, which was found with the jar from London, protected the glass and bones. Georgio Sangiorgi is one of the most famous names associated with the field of ancient glass collecting. Working from the Galleria Sangiorgi in the Palazzo Borghese, Sangiorgi acquired the most magnificent collection of ancient glass, seeking only the finest examples.

Modelled in the round with semi-naturalistic facial features and hair style with centre parting and tied in a chignon at the nape, detailing to the folds in the fabric of her garment; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 425 grams total, 11 cm high including stand



Acquired 1960s-1990s. Late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.

This bust probably served as a weight. The head of the sculpture is slightly turned up to the left, with a serious expression. The small sculpture could represent a bacchante or maenad, even if there are no visible iconographic elements directly linked to the cult of Dionysus.

The rectangular plate with differently sized horizontal and vertical extensions, five sub-square perforations. 19.3 grams, 60 mm



Acquired on the London art market, 1980s-1990s.

This bolt would originally have been associated with a tumbler mechanism; the matching teeth of a slide key would slide into the cut-outs of the bolt replacing the tumblers and allowing the bolt to be drawn.