Roman Carnelian Gemstone with Winged Victory

Shallow oil lamp with short nozzle flanked by volute scrolls, with an impressed band of leaves around the discus. 48.7 grams, 83 mm



From the collection of a Yorkshire, UK gentleman, items collected in the Holy Land in the 1960s.

Well preserved rectangular tablet made of cedar wood with a recessed panel to the inner face, the outer face flat and not inscribed; the second and last tablet of a Roman sales contract; the inner face inscribed in Roman cursive script using ink and calamus, fourteen lines of Roman cursive script written within the recess; two small holes both near the upper and lower rim (for binding the tablets of this document together); the text consists of dispositions regarding the sale of a special category of land (gemiones) and ends with the obligatory stipulatio formula: 'stipulata est Macrinia B., spopondidit Iulius L. – Macrinia B. stipulated, Iulius L. (as the vendor) gave the counter promise'. 44.3 grams, 15.6 x 14.1 cm



Acquired by Albert Sfez in the early 1950s. Formerly the property of Monsieur Alain Sfez, a Belgian 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. Accompanied by a copy of an illustrated academic report by Professor Dr phil. Peter Rothenhöfer.

Formed as the sole of a sandal with raised edges and a small loop to the rear; underside with remains of a catchplate and a pin. 4.41 grams, 39.8 mm



Ex Manchester collection, 1990s. Accompanied by a previous typed catalogue information card.