Roman Glass Juglet with Iridescent Surface

An irregular panel of floor with opus caementicium substrate and white stone tesserae embedded in horizontal rows in the upper layer. 2.2 kg, 20.5 cm



From the collection of a late East Anglian teacher and antiquarian who retired to the Isle of Wight, UK. He amassed a large collection of objects between the 1960s-1980s.

Formed as a dolphin with hollow-formed curved body attached at the mouth to the base; standing on the dolphin's lower back, a grotesque bearded figure of Silenus with a furry body, and with a rope tied around his waist, his arms spread holding a cymbal in each hand; stub to the rear where the dolphin's tail joined to form a loop; mounted on a custom-made stand. 370 grams total, 17.5 cm including stand



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.

Silenus is here represented as Papposilenus, a representation of Silenus that emphasises his old age, particularly as a stock character in satyr play or comedy. His costuming includes a body stocking tufted with hair (mallōtos chitōn) that seems to have come into use in the mid-5th century B.C.

Carved in the round as a torso of a slender female with hips turned, probably in contrapposto pose; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 23.4 kg total, 44 cm including stand



Ex private collection. with Artemis Gallery, Munich, Germany, early 1990s. Acquired from the above, 1999. Private European collection. 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.12101-218196.