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LOT 0688
Roman Female Bone Doll
3RD-4TH CENTURY A.D.
7 in. (214 grams total, 18 cm including stand).
A Roman or Parthian bone figurine of a female with holes to accept pegs for separate articulated arms, hatching to the piled hairstyle, incised facial features, tiered collar, slender body with drape detailing to the bodice, belt and skirt; pierced ears to accept earrings; mounted on a custom-made stand.
ProvenanceFamily collection since the 1960s.
with Christie's, London, 29 April 2010, lot 373.
Property of a Brussels gentleman.
Accompanied by copies of the relevant Christie's catalogue pages.
See similar doll in Reading Museum, Museum object number REDMG : 1997.15.1.
FootnotesThe doll was made of a carved bone figure of woman with separate arms attached to the body, and pieces for the ears. All the surface shows extensive marks of working by a saw, knife or a file. The body is made from bone, and the style of the doll is typical of Roman Britain. The separate parts were attached with pins or string. On the doll are still visible the little holes for the connecting string.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0688
Roman Female Bone Doll
Estimate £500 - 700€580 - 810 (for guidance only)$680 - 950 (for guidance only)
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Roman Portrait Gemstone in Gold Ring
2nd-3rd century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £1,690
A sardonyx cabochon gemstone with intaglio portrait bust of a male wearing a diadem, possibly Apollo; set in a later gold ring. 12.89 grams, 30.12 mm overall, 22.07 mm internal diameter (approximate size British X, USA 11 1/2, Europe 26.29, Japan 25)
Ex Dr. A.R., Leipzig, 1980-1980s. with Gorny and Mosch, 13 December 2017, lot 424. English private collection. -
Roman Gold Ring with Fish Gemstone
3rd-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,170
A hollow-formed gold finger ring with inset glass intaglio of two fishes placed tête-bêche; the astrological symbol for the Pisces constellation. 6.11 grams, 26.55 mm overall, 20.73 mm internal diameter (approximate size British W 1/2, USA 11 1/4, Europe 25.6, Japan 24)
English private collection. -
Roman Military Diploma Fragments
2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
A pair of bifacial bronze military diploma fragments bearing Latin text: fragment A, side 1: 'CAEL[IBES] / DVM [TAXAT]'; side 2: 'NI[- - -] MAX'; fragment B, side 1: 'RNESE / CVS'; side 2: 'AL[- - - / - - -] LL'. 7.13 grams total, 21-32 mm
Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.
Stylistically, the diploma seems connected with the empire of Hadrian, based in style used in letters M and A. The text of the extrinsecus can be partially reconstructed in the sentences ANTO{NI}NUS AVGVSTVS PONTIFEX {MAX}IMUS... AVT SIQUI {CAEL}IBES ESSENT CUM IIS QUAS POSTEA DUXISSENT {DUM}TAXAT SINGULI SINGULAS (...if they were in celibate then, to the maximum limit of only one (wife) for each...). The diploma gives 'HONESTA MISSIO' (honourable discharge) and Roman citizenship to the veterans of an unknown unit, also granting them permission to marry. The text of the internal side (intus) should report the dating, and the names of the soldiers and witnesses.
