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LOT 0620
Roman Empress Steelyard Weight
1ST-4TH CENTURY A.D.
2 3/4 in. (175 grams, 70 mm).
A copper-alloy steelyard weight in the form of an empress with an elaborate hairstyle, worn facial detailing.
ProvenanceAcquired early 2000s.
Property of a Birmingham, UK, collector.
Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman.
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AUCTIONS:
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Large Roman Rectangular Glass Bottle
3rd-4th century A.D.Estimate: £2,000 - 3,000 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £500
A mottled aqua-green glass bottle, the body square in plan with tall tubular trumpet-shaped mouth and neck, folded ribbed-strap handle; moulded detail to the underside of four anchor-shaped motifs radiating from the centre; cracked. 479 grams, 20.2 cm high
Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private Swiss collection since 1998. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11634-199024. -
Roman Turquoise Glass Pyxis
1st-4th century A.D.Estimate: £500 - 700 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £250
A vibrant green-blue glass pyxis with a broadly barrel-shaped body, everted foot and shoulder, domed inverted neck; areas of iridescence; repaired. 42 grams, 85 mm high
Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private collection since 1998.
Originally used principally by women to hold cosmetics, jewellery or even poisonous substances, some pyxides have even been identified as ink pots. Most surviving examples are Green terracotta examples. -
Roman Marble Head of a Young Woman
2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £16,900
A skilfully carved life-size marble head of a female (possibly Artemis, a Muse or an Amazon) with centrally parted hair composed of wavy strands and tied in a ponytail at the back; serene facial expression, almond-shaped eyes and small mouth with slightly parted lips; some restoration; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 14 kg total, 38 cm high including stand
Ex private collection, Monaco, 1960s-1970s. Acquired from the Monaco Fine Arts on 4th November 1992. Private collection of Mr & Mrs Daniel, Monaco. Acquired by the present owner from David Aaron Gallery in 2019. 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 searcher certificate number no.11569-197722.
The youthful head seems to be based on the Greek Attic Artemis Colonna type of the 4th century B.C. The composition of the head is powerful with a serene countenance, its physiognomy replete with the idealised quality characteristic of Greek classical sculpture. This classic influence is best seen in the perfect almond- shaped eyes with their sharply carved lids as well as the smooth contour of the face. The rich handling of the coiffure and the smooth quality of the face can suggest a date sometime during the Hadrianic (117 to 138 A.D.) or early Antonine periods.