Roman Glass Bead Necklace String

Substantial hollow-formed drum-shaped body with waisted nozzle, lateral integral lion-mask, stepped discus with leaf detailing, pelta-shaped reflector plate to rear with lateral wreath detailing and palmette motif; three-bar caged handle beneath. 1 kg, 23.3 cm



Acquired on the German art market in 1987. Ex Gorny and Mosch, 18 December 2013, no.502. 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.12346-225410.

This lamp belongs to the typology of ‘rounded bodies and volute spines’, typical of 1st or early 2nd century A.D. These lamps had fairly shallow and round-walled oil-chambers with long flat-topped nozzles with splayed tips (here very shallow). The majority of these lamps are of Italic manufacture, and similar have been found in Pompeii (see lamp in Ashmolean Museum ANFORTNUM B.186).

Possibly representing the god Silvanus, dressed in a short-sleeved tunic, gathered at the waist by a belt, wearing short boots and holding a cornucopia in his left arm; mounted on a polyhedral base. 264 grams, 13.2 cm



From a private family collection formed since the early 19th century, thence by descent. Property of a New Zealand legal professional. 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.12323-223710.

Most probably our specimen is from a private house, or private sacellum. The style of the statuette and comparison with other similar pieces points to a dating under the Trajan or Hadrian Empire. The true altar of the lares was the domestic fireplace, centre of the Roman domus, and their temple, the atrium.

With piriform body and dimple base, narrow neck and everted rim; rich blue iridescent surface. 22.23 grams, 71 mm



From a London, UK, collection, 1990s.