Roman Carnelian Gemstone with Hare

Hollow-formed with forefinger extended and bent, thumb in gripping position and other fingers curled around; mounted on a custom-made stand; thumb and forefinger restored. 4.65 kg total, 34 cm (47.5 cm high including stand)



Ex Frits Philips, Eindhoven, Netherlands, before 1980. European private collection, 1980s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12056-213654.

Parcel-gilt crossbow brooch with onion-shaped knops to the ends of the headplate and medially along the top edge; deep trapezoidal-section bow with median gusset; D-section footplate with chamfered sides open to one edge; upper part of one face of the bow with niello-filled running scroll design, lower part of the other face with running guilloche; beaded wire collar at the end. 14.6 grams, 46 mm



Ex N.C. collection. Acquired on the Swiss art market in 2000. European private collection.

Crossbow fibulae of this type were worn by high officers and, if in gold, even emperors, from Constantine to Justinian, as symbols of military rank. These fibulae are an important element in the graves, for the classification of the category of the dead, as belonging to the militia (armed or not); many of them were in gold, or gilded silver, and decorated with an inscription.

Tall thin translucent pale green vessel with wide base and flared rim. 30.9 grams, 13 cm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.