Roman Glass Bead Necklace

Modelled in relief with openwork elements, stylised detailing to both figures; hollow reverse. 182 grams, 10.2 cm high



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

Hollow cast bronze images of Eros riding a lion are linked to the Eastern Levant and have been found for example in Tamna, probably a Roman import. The importance of the long-distance contacts within the Eastern Mediterranean areas was rapidly reflected in provincial artistic styles, probably as soon as in Hellenistic times, at the beginning of the third century B.C., possibly even earlier. The unquestionable Greek influence led a number of scholars to define three main styles for the bronzes discovered in the eastern Roman provinces: a local type and iconography locally produced, Greek or Roman imports, and Oriental, Hellenistic, or Roman style, locally produced.

From the upper part of a vessel, displaying a bird, a satyr head and a caduceus, a leaping wild horse and a gladiator within a roundel. 71.9 grams, 98 mm



Acquired 1960s-1990s. From the late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.

These kind of fragments are often found in military camps. In addition to simple cooking pots, jugs, plates and mortars, the household effects of a contubernium (the smallest organised unit of soldiers in the Roman army composed of eight legionaries) also included finer eating and drinking utensils. To avoid confusion, many soldiers marked their dishes with their names and, if necessary, repaired them with the help of lead clips.

Including horned antelope and leaping deer; two free-standing. 61 grams total, 27-41 mm



‘The Ancient Menagerie Collection’ formerly the property of a Cambridgeshire lady, collected since the 1990s and acquired from auctions and dealers throughout Europe and the USA, now ex London collection.