Roman Glass Unguentarium

An ellipsoid carnelian gemstone with intaglio figure of Mars wearing a helmet and bearing a cornucopia in one hand and a miniature figure of Victory in the other; set in a later gold ring. 8.93 grams, 21.88 mm overall, 17.70 mm internal diameter (approximate size British N, USA 6 1/2, Europe 13.72, Japan 13)



Ex Marianne Maspero, 1980. with Pierre Berge & Associes, Paris, France, 16 May 2018, lot 230. English private collection.

Mars was the ancient Roman god of war and agriculture; the majority of his festivals were held in March, when the season for military campaigning commenced, whilst the season for farming ended. Mars symbolised military power as a method for securing peace and stability and was believed a protective father of the Roman people. In Roman mythology, Mars raped Silvia, thus fathering Romulus and Remus, the famous twins suckled by the She-wolf and founders of the city of Rome. The animals most closely associated with Mars are the woodpecker, wolf and bear.

A blue glass bottle of piriform shape with iridescent surfaces, decorated with later applied fruiting vines in high-relief, a stylised leaf to the vessel base; restored; rim chipped. 189 grams, 12 cm high



Acquired in the 1970s. English private collection.

A group of six Samian ware vessel bases labelled 'a-f', each stamped to the interior base; accompanied by an information sheet identifying the relevant workshop and approximate date: 'a. COSRVF Cosivs and Rufinus South Gaul late 1st century; b.Caddiron Caddiron Langres ?; c. BALBINVS F Balbinus (Fecit) Lubie early 2nd century; d.TITVRONIS O Tituro (officina workshop) Central Gaul early 2nd century; e. ALBVS F Albus Central Gaul early 2nd century; f. ]IVCVN ?'. 328 grams total, 4.2-13.7 cm



Found Billingsgate spoil from the Thames foreshore, London, UK. Acquired on the UK antiques market between 1974-1985. Albert Ward collection, Essex, UK. Accompanied by a typed original identification document from the Museum of London dated 29th August 1984.