Roman Glass Vessel Group

A sheet-bronze votive plaque fragment displaying repoussé ornament, likely the god Asclepius holding his snake-entwined staff beneath a columned arch, additional snakes raising their heads and necks beside and above him, other enigmatic symbols in the field. 2.67 grams, 52 mm



Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.

Aesculapius, god of medicine, the Greek Asclepius, son of Apollo and a mortal, Coronis, is often accompanied by a snake, a symbol of wisdom and healing power. Aesculapius-Asclepius is also often represented with the staff having a snake wrapped around it.

A silver cochlea spoon with scroll and swan-neck junction of bowl with stem; the flat-section stem narrowing to a point and returned to meet the shank. 22.1 grams, 10.9 cm



Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private Swiss collection since 1998.

A gemstone with one side incised with the head of Zeus Serapis wearing a modius crown, seen in profile to the left, surrounded by Greek letters I,Λ,φ, ν, Λ,Λ,Ϲ,Ϲ,Ε,Δ; the other side with enigmatic inscription 'BIKIω PIΗΔνMΗ IΔ φI ΛA'. 0.86 grams, 12 mm



Acquired before 1988. Ex family collection, by descent, Geneva.

Serapis was a Graeco-Egyptian god, whose cult was popularised during the 3rd century B.C. on the orders of Ptolemy I of Egypt, to facilitate the religious syncretism of his kingdom. During the Roman Empire his image was widely diffused in the east. Usually a third of these gems carry magical words which shows that they were used as amulets or for some other ritual purpose. These magical gems were inscribed with acclamations or prayers that suggest they were used as amulets for protection (in this case of Serapis) or to acquire charm, but only some of them can be linked with some divinatory or prophylactic purpose.