Roman Early Christian Bronze Ring with Fish

Hollow square in cross-section, with thin walls; terminals with copper-alloy plate soldered onto them; moulded lizard decoration to the upper face consisting of a low oval body tapering to a thin tail; head raised and short legs spread out from the body; small indentation either side of the head representing the eyes, linear engraved texture the body for scales; two perforated lugs at opposed corners. 29 grams, 48 mm



Found Gloucestershire, UK. From the collection of a late Gloucestershire, UK, collector. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.GLO-791057.

Of piriform shape with everted rim, gently chamfered upper lip and concave underside; lid with bevelled rim, gently dished upper face rising to a central dome and cylindrical handle with piecrust pleats; iridescent surfaces. 823 grams total, 29.5 cm high



Ex Sangiorgi collection, acquired in the 19th century. with Christie's, 3 June 1999, no.121. The remains of a 19th-early 20th-century label can be seen on the glass on one side. with Christie's, New York, 9 December 1999, no.476. American private collection, Westchester, New York, acquired in 1999. with Bonhams, London, 30 September 2015, no.91. Private collection, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13132-248966.

A similar jar in the British Museum was found in Warwick Square, London, inside a lead canister, and was originally filled with bone ashes. The Romans often reused glass jars, originally made for storing liquids and foodstuffs, as cremation vessels, but this kind of jar seems too fragile and was therefore probably purpose-made. The lead canister, which was found with the jar from London, protected the glass and bones. Georgio Sangiorgi is one of the most famous names associated with the field of ancient glass collecting. Working from the Galleria Sangiorgi in the Palazzo Borghese, Sangiorgi acquired the most magnificent collection of ancient glass, seeking only the finest examples.

Intaglio of a bearded goat standing on its hind legs against a tree on which it browses; large fruits hanging from two of the boughs; from a third bough to the right of the tree hangs what may be a dead hare, or possibly another fruit; set into a later gold ring; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 4.10 grams, 20.70 mm overall, 17.90 x 14.56 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L, USA 5 3/4, Europe 11.24, Japan 10)



Private collection, Europe. Acquired on the English art market.

A single transparent vein in the jasper running from top left to bottom right has been utilised by the engraver to emphasise the trunk of the tree.