Roman Deep Blue Glass Bead Necklace String

With a bust of Cupid, the god of love, facing right; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 0.41 grams, 13 mm



Private English collection, formed between the late 1970s and early 1990s. Private collection, London, UK.

Hollow-formed, no handle, but the rear bulging tubular part of the basin may have served as such; body in the shape of a comic theater mask with large open mouth; filling-hole on forehead, knit eyebrows with jolly expression and large open mouth functioning as a wick-hole; crown of foliage and fruits; flat raised oval base. 38 grams, 67 mm



From the collection of Mr W.A. Stewart, Director of School of Arts and Crafts, Cairo, 1919-1929. Acquired Christie's, London, Antiquities, Works of Art and Important Renaissance Bronzes, Plaquettes and Limoges Enamels, 8 July 1981, no.126 (part). From a private Wiltshire, UK, collection. Accompanied by a copy of the relevant Christie's catalogue page.

Lamps with figurines first appeared in the Hellenistic period, possibly originating in Athens, since the 2nd century B.C. Found in all parts of the Mediterranean basin, they were particularly popular during the 1st and 2nd centuries A.D. The Silenus face types were linked to the Bacchic cult. The crown of leaves and fruit across the forehead alludes to Bacchus or one of his followers.

With flattened discoid body and tall neck with flared mouth, applied rim. 20.5 grams, 10.6 cm



From a London, UK, collection, 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Glass flasks, such as this example, were used as containers for ointments, powders, balms, and other expensive liquids such as perfumes. These flattened spherical vessels were often utilised by pilgrims to carry water on their travels. This particular form appears to be a predecessor to twin-handled pilgrim flasks, which became commonplace later in the 3rd and 4th centuries.