Roman Gladius Sword Amulet

Each cuboid in form with ring-and-dot markings disposed: 1:6, 2:5, 3:4. 2.9 grams total, 8.5-9.8 mm



From the important private collection of dice and gaming pieces of Colin Narbeth, London, UK, collection no.47.

Matched pair of chariot fittings, each formed as the head and forelegs of a boar with open mouth and prominent tusks, developing to a crescentic square-section body with knop finial, supported on a column and square-section tiered base; mounted on custom-made display stands. 1.13 kg total, 22.5 cm high including stand



Ex Ancient Art, North London, UK. 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. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12058-212073.

The fittings were possibly part of a decoration of a Thraco-Roman chariot. Sometimes the ends of the yokes were covered with bronze toppers geometrically shaped or decorated with figures of a lion, a wild boar (our example), a goat, etc. Often, instead of these toppers, there were the so-called bronze distributors. Some were without decoration and others had geometric decoration. The most common ones were those sculpted as two opposing panthers (rarely lions).

With balustered hoop, broad shoulders with scrolled foliage detailing, discoid bezel with cell, inset nicolo gemstone with reversed 'SER/VIV' for SER(VI) VIV(AS) inscription in seriffed capitals, meaning 'Long may you live Servius'. 11.63 grams, 20.37 mm overall, 16.48 mm internal diameter (approximate size British J, USA 4 3/4, Europe 8.69, Japan 8)



UK private collection formed before 2000. Ex North London, UK, gallery. 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 a search certificate number no.11995-211017.

'Serviu[s]' is a second declension praenomen (Glare, P.G.W., A Latin Dictionary, London, 1968-82, page 1,746/3) apparently based on the noun 'servus' (servant, minister, office-holder). The name was in use in Consular and Imperial times, and was the patronym of important Roman Gens, like the Gens Servilia.