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LOT 0145
Roman Emerald Gemstone with Portrait of Young Nero
51-55 A.D.
5/8 in. (2.17 grams, 17 mm).
Depicting Nero as a young boy, either as crown prince or within the first year of his reign in his first known portrait type, unequivocal with his long hair fringe.
ProvenanceEx Paul Munro Walker collection, Bournemouth, UK, 1970s.
Private collection of Alexander Cotton, Hampshire, UK, sold October 1986.
From a London gentleman's, UK, collection, in the 1990s.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12104-216215.
For the bust type cf. denarius of Nero and Agrippina dating to 55 AD; Roman Silver Coins: RSC 4, Roman Imperial Coins: RIC 7, and Roman Coins and their values, Sear 2044.
FootnotesDr Ittai Gradel writes: 'Date is AD 51-55. On most glyptic portraits from shortly after he became emperor, so 54-55, he is shown laurelled ... However, on the coins he is shown also bare-headed even as emperor in 54-55 (second coin, denarius). Again, on coins his bust is shown draped only before he became emperor in 54 (first coin, aureus), but cameos show him draped also as emperor (as e. g. the Marlborough one: but there are several known). It is therefore not possible to say if the emerald shows him as crown prince or as emperor, and I cannot date it more precisely than 51-55.'
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Roman Silver Ring with Carnelian Gemstone
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Roman Bronze Figure of Pan
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The god standing nude supporting a cornucopia on his right shoulder and a syrinx in his left hand; ithyphallic with furry legs and short tail; mounted on a custom-made stand. 323 grams total, 16.5 cm including stand
Acquired from Sasson Ancient Art, Jerusalem, Israel, in 2008. From the Keane private collection, Kent, UK. Accompanied by an original signed certificate of authenticity, export approval, and invoice (US $9,500.00), from Sasson Ancient Art. Accompanied by a copy of the Israel Antiquities Authority export licence. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12100-216768 -
Antiquarian Research and Photograph Albums of Various Roman Sites in Britain
1960s-1980s A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
Comprising six albums: a photo album with pictures from Calleva Atrebatum, Roman Silchester in Hampshire, England, showing categorised images of artefacts and displays from Reading museum with handwritten information labels, including mosaics, jewellery, beads, pottery, tiles and other artefacts; a photo album with images from Tullie House Museum showing pictures of oil lamps, oil lamps, pottery, some with handwritten information labels, also containing images from Colchester Castle Museum comprising images of pottery, Samian ware moulds, and other artefacts, and images from Wroxeter Roman city, pictures of six stones from the Roman camp at Old Penrith, pictures from Newcastle Museum, and from Great Witcombe villa in Gloucestershire; an album with postcards and printed information cards from Vindolanda, a Roman auxiliary fort south of Hadrian's Wall showing life and costumes during Roman occupation; another album with photographs from Corbridge, a Roman town south of Hadrian's Wall, pictures taken at Aldborough Roman town, and pictures from Yorkshire Museum in York; an album containing black-and-white images of mainly Roman and Byzantine coins; a scrap book with labelled pictures and postcards from Chedworth Roman Villa, Chesters Roman Fort in Northumberland, Housesteads Roman Fort, antiquities in Chesters Museum, Hadrian's Wall area, Aesica (Great Chesters), Vindolanda, and miscellaneous pictures of historic places and artefacts. 12.9 kg total, 26.5 x 28.5 - 33.5 x 29 cm
From the collection of a late East Anglian teacher and antiquarian who retired to the Isle of Wight in Hampshire, UK. He amassed a large collection of objects between the 1960s-1980s.
