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LOT 0102
Roman Gnostic Magical Gemstone with Goddess Selene
3RD CENTURY A.D.
7/8 in. (3.07 grams, 21 mm).
An oval-shaped amuletic peridot gemstone intaglio with bevelled edge, engraved with facing figure of goddess Selene advancing left, wearing a peplos with billowing veil or shawl above, crescent at neck and to head, holding a torch; Greek inscription 'MY' and inversed 'MI' below; supplied with a museum-quality impression.
ProvenanceAcquired 1979-1999.
London collection of the late Mr S.M., thence by descent.
Acquired on the UK art market.
Private collection, London, UK.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0102
Roman Gnostic Magical Gemstone with Goddess Selene
Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,690
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Roman Bronze Armilla Bracelet
2nd-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
Penannular in form with a D-section hoop and snake-head finials. 6.19 grams, 49 mm
From the private collection of Kenneth Machin (1936-2020), Buckinghamshire, UK; his collection of antiquities and natural history was formed since 1948; thence by descent. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato. -
Roman Bronze Bow Brooch Group
Circa 2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
Comprising: knee brooch with chord and pin; slender Polden Hill type with hole to the catchplate. 14.1 grams total, 34-51 mm
Acquired on the UK art market before 2000. Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato. -
Late Roman Votive Lead Mirror Inscribed 'For the woman who loves her husband'
3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £546
Comprising a discoid plate with running scroll border, lentoid-section handle with raised teardrop decoration; applied central reflective disc with Greek inscription to the reverse: 'τῆς φιλάνδρου πάντα' translating to 'For the woman who loves her husband'; with original reflective glass in situ. 35 grams, 10.3 cm
Acquired from Brigantia, York, UK, circa 2010. Ian Wilkinson collection, Nottinghamshire, UK, formed since 1985. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
Many examples of this category from the Danube region were found in female graves, where they perhaps served as grave goods considered appropriate for their connection with general issues of fertility, good fortune, and beauty, or even as protective amulets. The inscriptions found on votive lead mirrors in Pannonia, published by Németh & Szabó, show female characteristics, and the beautiful female soul as an addressee. Since lead mirror frames have been found in this Roman province only in graves of women, it is probable that these miniature mirrors, filled with glass in their central hole, were expected to serve as ritual or magical tools to assist the souls of dead women in the afterlife.
