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LOT 0587
Roman Bronze Steelyard Weight
3RD-4TH CENTURY A.D.
1 1/4 in. (22.5 grams, 33 mm).
Formed as a female bust with stola and tunic, braided hair dressed in a chignon; transverse ribbing above the flat base, pierced lug forming part of the hairstyle. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFound Wiltshire, UK, before 1974.
LiteratureSee Bolla, M., Le misure dei Romani, Verona, 2017, pp.8-9, fig.12; Allason-Jones, L. & Miket, R., Catalogue of Small Finds from South Shields Roman Fort, Gloucester, 1984.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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Large Roman Gold Ring with Tyche Gemstone
Mid-late 3rd century A.D. and laterEstimate: £7,000 - 9,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £3,889
A substantial D-shaped ring with floral decoration, set with a later nicolo intaglio engraved with the figure of Tyche, holding a cornucopia and rudder, wearing a kalathos on her head; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 27.45 grams, 31.67 mm overall, 22.21 x 16.71 mm internal diameter (approximate size British O, USA 7, Europe 14.98, Japan 14)
Marcus Hollersberger, Solothurn, 1982. Ex Galerie Schönbrunn, Vienna, 1987. with Christie's, London, 7 December 2022, no.80. Accompanied by a copy of the relevant Christie's catalogue listing. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12105-217766. -
Roman Bronze Horse-Head Mount
2nd-3rd century A.D.Estimate: £1,200 - 1,700 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £600
Hollow-formed mount formed as a crescent with horse-head finial modelled with flying mane and mouth open; to the rear, a deep flared socket with dentilled rim. 106 grams, 63 mm
Acquired on the German art market, 1989-1995. with The Museum Gallery, 19 Bury Place, London, WC1A 2JB, 1998-2003. Property of a London based academic, 2003-present.
This is beautiful Roman workmanship, probably derived from Hellenistic prototypes, which finds comparisons in similar mounts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the British Museum. It could be a bed mount (for bed or triclinium) or a furniture element. It is also possible that it was a cart or chariot element. -
Roman Bronze Strigil
2nd century B.C.-1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £780
With C-section profile to the blade, rectangular handle with flare to the upper end, old notch to one edge, repaired. 46 grams, 19 cm
Ex collection Dr. Kuhn-Lucht, Germany. with Kölner Munzkabinett, Cologne, before 2016. Private European collection.
An emblematic instrument of the ancient sporting world, the strigil was mainly used by athletes as a scraper for personal hygiene. After training, which took place in the gymnasiums on tracks and arenas covered with sand, athletes and young people rubbed their skin with olive oil. They then used one of these distinctive scrapers remove the sand-oil mixture before washing in water. These actions are reproduced on famous statues (including Apoxyomenos, one of Lysippus’ masterpieces), on reliefs (such as funerary steles) as well as on countless vase paintings. In Attic and Italian red-figure imagery, the strigil is often depicted on perfume vases, like the aryballos and alabastron.
