Roman Gold Ring with Garnet Gemstone

A bronze domed discoid vessel lid, carinated body and gently inverted lower rim, circumferential frieze displaying 'yellow' and red champlevé enamelled flower heads within foliate roundels, alternating with stylised amphoras and volute scrolls creating heart shapes set against a rich blue field; central projecting stem with hexagonal plate, ornamented with a central domed flower head, amphora and foliate motifs surrounding; two suspension lugs with loops to the perimeter of the lower rim; repaired. 435 grams, 15 cm wide



Acquired from Ariadne Galleries Inc, New York, 30 October 2003. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11622-198955.

Champlevé is a decorative technique which involves cutting cells into a metal surface and filling the void with enamel, using the raised metal borders between the cells to create the design outline.

A spool-shaped glass vessel with rounded base and lip; some iridescent surfaces. 31.7 grams, 48 mm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

A fragment of redware ceramic from a moulded vessel, low-relief design depicting the giant Geryon as a helmetted Roman Miles advancing, with gladius held ready in both his left hands and a studded round shield; modern mounting loop to the reverse. 36 grams, 78 mm



Acquired 1960s-1990s. From the late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.

The image is a representation of the giant Geryon, a monster killed by Herakles usually represented with three bodies and three heads, or three heads and one body, or three bodies and one head. In the Roman iconography (but already visible in Greek iconography) he is often represented as an armoured warrior. The original pottery to which the fragment belonged was probably originally decorated with the labours of Hercules.