Roman Carnelian Gemstone with Moon and Stars

A square tablet of testamentary dispositions with writing on eleven horizontal rows and witness names in 10 vertical rows. 24.97 grams, 13.5 x 14 cm



Acquired by Albert Sfez in the early 1950s. Formerly the property of Monsieur Alain Sfez, a Belgium collector; acquired by gift from his father Albert Sfez, in 1965. Acquired by a London dealer in 1973. From an important London collection since 1975; thence by descent.

Wax tablets written in Greek or Latin, were used by Romans as account registers (codices accepti et expensi); for transactions (for example, the tablets of the banker Lucius Caecilius Iucundus found in Pompeii); for lists of goods, inventories, and notes to be kept and archived; for Roman magistrates to annotate the salient events of their bureaucratical activities; for writing letters; for drawing up legal texts of various kinds: legacies, declarations of births and citizenship, reports of trials and diplomata militaria; and especially testaments in private civil law.

Bulbous body with a tall, slightly tapering neck with an inward-folded rim. 43.8 grams, 12.1 cm



Acquired in the 1990s from London dealerships and auction houses. From the Lonson collection.

Including spoon bowl with swan-neck handle, stud with incuse triskele, shoe-shaped plate brooch and other items. 57 grams total, 21-64 mm



From the private collection of Mr Brian Edwards, New Malden, Surrey, UK, formed from the late 1970s-early 1980s; thence by descent.