Roman Fresco Painted Wall Plaster Collection

Comprising: a large glass melon bead; an oblate melon bead with 'eye' motifs; a cylindrical polychrome glass bead with trails; an oblate millefiori bead; with a number of other beads in carnelian, glass and modelled clay. 53 grams total, 7-27 mm



Acquired in the 1980s-1990s. Property of a Nottinghamshire gentleman.

Comprising a matching pair of earrings, each composed of a hollow crescentic body tapering to slender coiled wire terminals, a suspension loop to each shoulder, large tear-shaped cell to front with granulated border, set with a polished garnet cabochon, gold bulbs below in the form of a bunch of grapes, adorned with smaller granules and three cells set with polished garnet cabochons; the necklace elements comprising graduated beads, alternating between roughly spherical polished garnets and sheet-gold beads of various types including gusseted, biconical and tubular, two floral filigree pendants flanking a central pendant ornamented with 'plaited' and plain filigree wire with granules to the outside, finial of trefoil bulbs, central corrugated cell set with a polished garnet cabochon; mounted on a custom-made perspex display base. 435 grams total, display stand: 30 x 23.5 cm (earrings: 38 mm each)



Ex private European collection, 1970s. with Genève Enchères, 14 December 2017, Lot 999. 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.11584-199015.

Beryls, used as small pendants, and not placed horizontally, characterised Roman necklaces of 2nd century A.D. A typical example is the necklace found in the grave of Crepereia Tryphaena. The contents of the grave are dated to the Antonine age based on the sarcophagus, the inscription, and the hairstyle of the doll it contains.

With an aqua-coloured hemispherical bowl and dark blue glass rim and handle with raised knops to the neck, the bowl with moulded lozengiform 'net' motif with kick-up to base surrounded by a moulded rosette; iridescent surfaces; handle repaired. 88 grams, 19 cm



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