Roman Gold Amulet of a Draped Female

Modelled standing nude in a contorted pose with left arm raised and right hand on the hip, head tilted; mounted on a custom-made stand. 257 grams total, 11.5cm including stand



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.

Rolland (p.104) notes that such grotesque 'pygmy' figures may have been intended as caricatures. They were already produced in Alexandria since the 1st century B.C., and considered to be charms against the evil eye. Beautiful statuettes of this typology are well known from the Roman period, perhaps produced in the workshops of Alexandria, Egypt, on the occasion of the visit of the Emperor Caracalla.

Squat and biconvex in section with thick lug handle and deep nozzle, the shoulder with horizontal bands of pellets; old collector's inked reference 'OL12' to underside. 70 grams, 75 mm



Acquired from a Kidlington, UK, collection. From the private collection of Kenneth Machin (1936-2020), Buckinghamshire, UK; with collection no.OL12; his collection of antiquities and natural history was formed since 1948; thence by descent.

Composed of sections of red and yellow beads separated by green oblate beads, restrung and including some trade-wind beads. 14.2 grams, 63 cm long



Ex property of a late Japanese collector, 1970-2000s.