Roman 'Essex' Bronze Lion Brooch

Standing with its left foreleg raised, the head held high and turned slightly left with a full, fleshy dewlap cascading to the brisket; the tail looping over the rump, with its end adhering to the left flank; wide-open eyes and flaring nostrils; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 106 grams, 72 mm wide (207 grams total, 91 mm high including stand)



Acquired from Charles Ede Ltd., London, UK, in 2004. From the collection of a South West London, UK, collector.

After the Roman annexation of Egypt, Egyptian cults such as that of the Apis bull were syncretised, becoming part of a distinctively Egyptian form of Roman polytheism. Representations of prancing Apis bulls, turned either left or right, have been found throughout the Roman empire. Various parallels can be found in the Cincinnati Art Museum (inv.1956.13), in Walters Art Gallery (inv.54.1565) and in the British Museum.

Roughly barrel-shaped amber glass vessel with rounded shoulder and base, slender neck and broad upwards-flaring rim with applied trails to the underside, applied sub-rectangular handle; iridescent surfaces; rim chipped. 188 grams, 19 cm high



Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private collection since 1998.

Composed of a squat bulbous body with broad shoulder, slender cylindrical neck with flared rim, conical spout to the shoulder; kick-up to base; iridescent surfaces. 50 grams, 13.7 cm high

Fine condition.

Paris collection, 1990s. From an important Paris gallery, France. Ex private Parisian collection.