Roman Bulbous Glass Vase

Modelled in the round, standing with right leg bent, right arm raised and left extended before the body; with thick tousled hair, exaggerated torc to the neck, jacket with incised vertical lines, tight-fitting trousers and ankle-boots. 53 grams total, 67 mm



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.

The pose of the figure suggests that he is in the action of brandishing a weapon, or possibly holding the reins of a team of horses pulling a chariot. Caesar mentions the expert use of the war-chariot by the Britons (Conquest of Gaul, IV.33). The padded garment suggests a Celtic auxiliary in the Roman army.

Comprising one round-section in deep blue, one similar in deep red, and a D-section in pale blue/turquoise. 14.3 grams total, 42-55 mm



Formerly with a Bournemouth gentleman. Ex Essex collection. Property of a Scottish collector, acquired in 2013.

Bangles did not occur in a vacuum after the Roman invasion but were an integral part of globalising networks of cross-Channel trade and connections with the European mainland in the early first century A.D. According to J. Price bangles were first developed in southern Britain in the late Claudio-Neronian period (A.D. 43–65/70) and that in subsequent periods the craft of bangle-making quickly spread further north with the advance of the Roman army.

Including trumpet-bezel, square bezel, ellipsoid bezel and other types. 25 grams total, 15-24 mm



Ex C. Sullivan collection, UK, 1990s.