Roman Glass and Other Mixed Bead String

Comprising agate, carnelian, jasper and other stones, displaying intaglio busts and scenes including: Hercules wrestling the Nemean lion; female busts in profile; cockerel standing right; seated winged deity; an erotic scene; peacock or other bird; eagle grappling with a snake; two figures, possibly gladiators in combat; each accompanied by a museum-quality impression. 6.97 grams total, 11-15 mm



Ex property of a Bristol family collection formed between 1960-late 1970s. Two from a London collection, UK.

Featuring moulded legs and scalloped lower edge to front face; circular hole to the top; hollow-formed. 556 grams, 14.5 cm



Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.

Some bronze supports found in the dedication shrines in temples are peculiar: they often have no frames of architectural derivation and have a central hole to the top. These bases seem to have not been intended for statuettes but for objects that may have needed support on a wall due to their height, possibly military standards, numerous fragments of which have been found in the Northern Italian regions. If this hypothesis is correct, this base could confirm the dedication of 'standards' as ex voto, positioned in the temple as a place for the conservation of military insignia.

Of truncated conical form, the agate stone engraved with a prancing male lion facing right, one front leg and tail raised; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. 1.79 grams, 14 mm



Acquired on the European art market in the late 1960s-early 1970s.