Roman Bronze Sitting Squirrel Statuette

Formed a a stepped disc with opposed scrolls and spurs, substantial V-shaped loop below. 197 grams, 72 mm



From the private collection of M.Cummings, Lincolnshire, UK, 1990s.

Comprising two discoid ornamental appliqués with beaded rims, each with repoussé pelta-shaped panel terminating in opposed bird-heads, surmounted by scrolled tendrils and a kantharos enclosed in a laurel crown. 7.28 grams total, 64-65 mm



Acquired in the early 1990s. From the collection of a London antiquarian. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The subject represented on these two bracteae is a military shield in the form of a crescent, the so-called pelta, associated in the Late Roman iconography with the Amazon female warriors. This was not necessarily only an iconographic motif, considering that many shields of this typology were represented on the pedestal of the Column of Arcadius in Constantinople (circa 400 A.D.) and they seemed to be associated with the heavy cavalry of the Imperial guard (D’Amato-Negin, 2017, p.252). This could suggest that these gold sheets were applied upon phalerae or military decorations.

With barrel-shaped body, trumpet-shaped mouth and two applied strap handles to the shoulder; band of scrolled tendrils to the equator, vertically ribbed bands above and below. 20 grams, 75 mm



From an important London, UK, collection, 1970-1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12236-222279.