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LOT 0708
Roman Ceramic Brick with Military Stamp for Legio I Italica
1ST-4TH CENTURY A.D.
10 7/8 x 5 1/8 in. (2.5 kg, 27.5 x 13 cm).
Of rectangular form, a recessed stamp to one face bearing letters in relief 'LEG I ITAL' for First Italic Legion.
ProvenanceAcquired 1960s-1990s.
Late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.
See Sarnowski, T., 'Die Ziegelstempel aus Novae' in Archaeologia, Warszawa, 1983, 43, pp.17-61; Kurzmann, R., 'Soldier, Civilian and Military Brick Production' in Oxford Journal of Archaeology, 24 (4), 2005, pp.405-414.
FootnotesThe Legio I Italica ('of Italy') was a Roman legion formed by Nero on September 20, 66 or 67 A.D. and it was active until the 5th-6th century AD. The emblems of the legion were a running boar and sometimes a bull. Troops of this legion appear on Trajan's Column bridging a river. The main camp of the Legio was Novae, modern Bulgaria, but it operated in most of the imperial provinces, including Britain, where a vexillatio fought in the wars of Septimius Severus between 202 and 204 A.D.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0708
Roman Ceramic Brick with Military Stamp for Legio I Italica
Sold for (Inc. bp): £494
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Large Roman Bronze Statue Toe
1st-2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £312
Modelled with naturalistic nail detailing. 155 grams, 69 mm
Acquired early 2000s. Property of a Birmingham, UK, collector. Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman. -
Roman Bronze Oinochoe with Lion Protome
1st century B.C.-1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,680
The conical body decorated with overlapping petal-shaped panels, tapering neck with a wide spout, high arching handle with acanthus leaves, bust of a youthful male with long hair below (possibly Bacchus) the upper part terminating with a lion protome with the extended forelegs resting on the rim of the vessel, the high flaring foot possibly added later. 797 grams, 22.5 cm high
Excellent condition
Private collection, Rosenheim, Germany, 1960s. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11734-201200.
Considering the primary function of oinochoe as drinking jugs, the images decorating them were often related to the god of wine, Bacchus, here probably represented as young Dionysus accompanied by a lion. -
Large Roman Bronze Basilisk
4th century A.D.Estimate: £500 - 700 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £278
The upper body, neck and head of a mythical basilisk (cockatrice), modelled in the round with the body of a serpent and head of a cockerel, the body with a tapering round-section profile, stylised detailing to the head. 260 grams, 88 mm
‘The Ancient Menagerie Collection’ formerly the property of a Cambridgeshire lady, collected since the 1990s and acquired from auctions and dealers throughout Europe and the USA, now ex London collection.
The basilisk, known from the Renaissance onwards as a cockatrice, was a Graeco-Roman mythical two-legged dragon or serpent-like creature with a cock's head. It had the reputed ability to kill people by either looking at them, touching them, or sometimes breathing on them. According to legend a cockatrice would die instantly upon hearing a rooster crow, and having a cockatrice looking at itself in a mirror was one of the few sure ways to kill it.
