Roman Double Phallic Enamelled Bronze Plate Brooch

With pricked ears, arched neck, D-shaped saddle and bobbed tail; the lower hindlegs developing into a headplate similar to a Roman crossbow brooch; the hinge-notch present on the headplate, the pin and catchplate absent. 29.8 grams, 47 mm



Acquired late 1980s-early 1990s. Ex private collection, Nottinghamshire, UK. Property of a Kent lady collector.

The discoid body formed as an openwork monogram ROMA in Latin letters, the M and A ligated, the O formed by the brooch frame itself; ROMA also a palindrome for AMOR. 13.9 grams, 32 mm



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman.

The brooch is engraved with stylised letters ‘RMA’. When viewed from the default side, RMA + the circle of the brooch form a monogram for ‘Roma’. Roma refers to both the city and its divine personification, the Dea Roma. When RMA is read from right to left (or the brooch is viewed from the opposite side), the letters form a monogram for ‘AMOR’, the Latin name for Cupid, the god of love. The phrase pertains to Roma-Amor, a widely recognised palindrome espousing Roman wordplay in the ancient times.

A mixed group of two hundred and fifty single tesserae of various colours and sizes, mostly cuboid. 353 grams total, 10-15 mm



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.