Roman Gold Ring with Theseus Gemstone

Decorated with a frieze of partially preserved acanthus volutes from which emerges a figure of a winged female, possibly a siren, the body and the head of a woman with brown hair, the outstretched wings in pink and yellow; ochre background, cream-coloured line border with a green raised edge (part of the wall) below; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 979 grams total, 16 cm high including stand



From a European collection formed in the 19th century or earlier, based on the custom-made tooled leather box similar to another fragment kept in a case of similar manufacture with a label reading 'Fragment de Pompéi provenant de la vente Préat 1868' sold at Sotheby's New York, 12 December 2013, lot 84. Mitsukoshi department store, Nihonbashi, Tokyo, by 1974. Japanese art market, 1974-1978. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no 11828-207723.

This painted stucco was probably part of a decorative frame. Such decorations can be seen on the famous Villa of Oplontis, where the painted walls of the Triclinium nr. 14 have been divided thrice by columns with a sphinx as ornament on the top of the pillar, decorated with acanthus scrolls and sirens beneath the sphinxes.

With openwork body formed as two dolphins leaping in tandem, with simple detailing to the fins; on the reverse pin lug and catchplate. 13.3 grams, 32 mm



Acquired on the UK art market. Property of a Ruislip, UK, gentleman, by inheritance.

Twin dolphin brooches were found in Wiltshire, but they are more typical of the Roman territory of Pannonia, The hinge was usually placed below the bodies towards the tails, so that when worn win the pin point uppermost the dolphins faced upwards instead of downwards.

With iridescent surface, flat bottom, vertical ribbed segmentation, slightly everted chipped rim. 88 grams, 98 mm wide



Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector, with numbered reference G.31. London collection, 2016.