Roman Glass Vessel Group

Well preserved rectangular tablet with a recessed panel inscribed with eleven lines of Roman cursive script, no writing on the reverse, the last tablet of a legal contract probably regarding questions of land ownership between a Crescentius and a Lanuarius into which also local elders, seniores, were involved; the text consists of highly developed legal formula, e.g. testati sunt …, and ends with the note: Actum Goretiano, which may be understood as ‘negotiated and decided at the Goretiano estate’; the fundus Goretianos is also mentioned in various other know legal documents. 27.4 grams, 14.4 cm



Acquired by Albert Sfez in the early 1950s. Formerly the property of Monsieur Alain Sfez, a Belgian collector; acquired by gift from his father Albert Sfez, in 1965. Acquired by a London dealer in 1973. From an important London collection since 1975; thence by descent. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Frieze fragment with bust of a male in animated pose, head tilted upwards and eyes wide open; the hair executed in successive curly waves around the thick brow, the broad nose merging into the small open mouth; short curly beard on the neck but face clean-shaven; with steel mounting rod beneath. 9.85 kg, 31 cm



Private collection of a sculptor, Munich; acquired in the 1970s on the Munich art market (Ohlendorf). Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate no.S00044779. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12478-228802. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

The subject seems to be a retainer of military commanders, usually represented on their sarcophagi in wild hunting parties where men, lions and boars fight. It is highly probable that the head was originally from a massive sarcophagus of a general, like the one in Palazzo Mattei in Rome.

With cup-shaped bezel flanked by spurs to the shoulders, incuse eagle motif. 7.70 grams, 27.70 mm overall, 19.23 mm internal diameter (approximate size British S 1/2, USA 9 1/4, Europe 20.63, Japan 19)



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.