Roman Fitting in the Form of a Female Bust

Modelled naturalistically in the round, directing his gaze upwards left, the eyes with sculpted pupils originally decorated with stone insertions, his face framed by voluminous short curls swept up off the forehead, sideburns and a moustache. 5.6 kg, 21 cm

Two neck creases, but in general good condition.

Ex Mario Fumasoli (1901-1989) collection, Switzerland, acquired between 1940-1970; thence by descent. with Christie's London, 24th October 2013, lot 92. Private Swiss collection since 1998. Accompanied by a copy of the relevant Christie's catalogue pages. 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 number no.11583-198975.

The head was possibly from a relief representing barbarian prisoners of war, perhaps part of a monument commemorating the campaigns of Marcus Aurelius along the lower Danube, recorded on his famous column in Piazza Colonna, Rome.

Hollow-formed with ellipsoid bezel, inset panel of banded iridescent glass bearing an image of a nude Greek hero with long hair, the head turned back, carrying branches, an amphora or jug at his feet. 1.18 grams, 18.29 mm overall, 15.66 mm internal diameter (approximate size British G, USA 3 1/4, Europe 4.92, Japan 4)



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

The inset glass bezel is probably archaic Greek or Etruscan and reused in Roman times. The traits of the man point to Archaic Hellenic features, especially the oval eyes and the long hair, and the pointed beard reminiscence of the Achaean heroes.

Comprising a large quantity of pottery and red-ware sherds from large and small vessels, including an amphora neck and part of a handle. 586 grams total, 7-74 mm



Found near Vechten, Netherlands. Netherlands private collection. Acquired from a private collector in 2009. Property of a Nottinghamshire gentleman. Accompanied by a typed information sheet.

Fectio, modern Vechten, was a fort in the limes, the frontier zone of the Roman Empire, situated at the site of the bifurcation of the rovers Rhine and Vecht. Numismatic evidence suggests that it was founded by the Roman general Tiberius (the future emperor) during the 4/5th campaigns. It probably served as a military base during punitive raids. Around the middle of the 2nd century AD, the wood and earth fort was replaced by a stone fortification and occupied by the Ala I Thracum, who had previously been stationed in Britain. At the end of the 2nd/beginning of the 3rd century, the silting up of the Rhine’s arm on which Fectio lays had progressed to such an extent that access from the river was no longer possible. In the more than two and a half centuries of its existence, the camp was destroyed and rebuilt several times until the fort site was finally abandoned - as evidenced by archaeological traces of fire after a final destruction in 270/275 A.D.