Roman Glass Vessel

Ellipsoid pendant, hollow to the reverse with high-relief mask of Dionysus flanked by vine leaves and bunches of grapes. 6.2 grams, 23 mm



From the glyptic collection of Mr X; thence by descent. Acquired Hotel des Ventes, Drouot, Eve SVV, Paris, France, 28 June 2017, no.147 (Part). Property of a French collector.

Each a D-section disc with central triskele and coiled arms, segmented detailing to the outer face. 340 grams total, 10-10.2 cm



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.

The two mounts are elements of horse harness decorating the antilena and postilena of the horse, as intersection fittings of the main straps. According to Alfoldi, these horse harnesses were the product of a metallurgy that was the fruit of a Gallo-Roman revival, and not exclusively of military nature. The military adopted similar elements fruit of the revival of this Celtic-Roman decorative art, since such harnesses have also been discovered in border fortresses. But the large industrial centers, which worked for export, manufactured objects primarily for the Danubian regions where both the soldiers and the civilian population, without distinction of class, used them as habitual objects.

With slightly dished bowl, shank cast with voids simulating a guilloche, loop finial with pointillé detailing. 25 grams, 18 cm



Acquired on the London art market in the late 1980s-1990s. From the family collection of an East London, UK, gentleman.