Roman Brooch Collection

The goddess standing wearing a knee-length robe, bearing a cornucopia on her left arm. 89 grams total, 87 mm 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.

Statuettes of Fortuna, the goddess of Chance, were evidently popular during the Roman Imperial times judging from the large number that have been found, and with the advent of the cult of Isis inside the Roman Empire the two divinities were identified as a single goddess.

With ribbed handle, discoid plate with raised rib to one face, running scrolls to the other, lateral struts. 43 grams, 11 cm



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman.

Many examples of this category from the Danube region were found in female graves, where they possibly served as grave goods considered appropriate for their connection with general issues of fertility, good fortune, and beauty, or even as protective amulets. Since lead mirror frames have been found in this Roman province only in graves of women, it is probable that these miniature mirrors, fitted with a central glass, were expected to serve as ritual or magical tools to assist souls of dead women in the afterlife.

With intaglio scene of a man milking a goat with one leg extended, his back resting on a tree-trunk; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 0.79 grams, 12 mm



Collected from 1970-1999. From the collection of the late Mr S.M., London, UK. Accompanied by a previous catafalque information slip.