Roman Enamelled Bronze Cockerel Finial

Composed of a discoid body with sunken discus bearing a scene of two gladiators in combat in relief, tabula ansata below, ring handle and roughly D-shaped nozzle with volutes; old crack to base. 84 grams, 12.4 cm



From a German collection. Ex Cambridge, UK, collection, 1980s.

The two gladiators seem to wear the armaturae of murmillones. All gladiators began their career as provocatores; the learning of their combat technique was polyvalent and allowed the fighters to specialise as a large shield-bearer (the scutati) like murmillones, or as a small shield-bearers, parmati, like the oplomachus.

Formed as a square base with gusseted profile, a lion cub crouching on the upper face with one forepaw raised; open to the rear and underside; statuette or fitting. 108 grams, 53 mm



Acquired in the 1990s. Collection of a Suffolk, UK, gentleman.

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. 831 grams total, 29.5 cm high



Ex Sangiorgi collection, acquired in the 19th century. with Christie's, 3 June 1999, lot 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, lot 476. American private collection, Westchester, New York, acquired in 1999. with Bonhams, London, 30 September 2015, lot 91. 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 search certificate no.203222.

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 The Romans often re-used glass jars, originally made for storing liquids and foodstuffs, as cremation vessels, but this kind of jar seems too fragile and was therefore probably purpose-made.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.