Roman Enamelled Bronze Eagle Plate Brooch

Depicted as a bearded man, seated and naked apart from a hood or cap on his head, with rope binding the hands together and extending around the neck and ankles; pierced vertically at the shoulders; probably a sliding mount for a thong or cord; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 55 grams total, 79 mm including stand



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.

Statuettes of foreign ‘barbarian’ prisoners of this type have been found along the Danube. Their spread coincides with the Marcomannic wars of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. The Swabian knot in this warrior’s hair has parallels with the warrior depicted on the contemporary Sarcophagus of Portonaccio, which represents a battle between Romans and Germanic Gauls.

Rectangular in form with punched points disposed 1:5, 2:6, 3:4. 7.62 grams, 11 mm



Found UK. From the important private collection of dice and gaming pieces of Colin Narbeth, London, UK, collection no.81.

Comprising: applicator with head finial; tag with nail cleaner; hair pin with balustered shank; cosmetic spoon. 14.6 grams total, 40-93 mm



Found City of London, UK. Acquired from mudlark Steve Brooker in the early 2000s. Ian Wilkinson collection, Nottinghamshire, UK, formed since 1985.