Roman Green Glass Bead Necklace String

Comprising a shallow bowl fitted with handles and raised foot, the rim engraved with petals. 39 grams, 95 mm wide



From a North Yorkshire, UK, private collection. Acquired from Adam Partridge Auctioneers, Macclesfield, UK. Property of Mr A.B., an American collector.

In regards of the shape, Roman silver vessels usually fall into three classes: (1) vessels for eating; (2) vessels for drinking; (3) jugs and saucepans (trullae). The first class includes flat, circular dishes (lances), often of considerable size; the situlae or buckets, and the bowls with projecting rims (our specimen) of various dimensions. The form of the present bowl (probably used for spices, like pepper [piperatoria]) occurs all over the Mediterranean basin, and is Alexandrian in origin.

Modelled in the round, right hand clutching a wreath of laurel leaves. 19.6 grams, 23 mm



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 hand raising the laurel wreath, symbol of Roman victory, could belong to a statuette representing the winged Victory, Nike. However, an important statuette of Flora, goddess of flowering and cereals, found in Witcombe Villa, represents her with raised hand holding a similar wreath, which does not necessarily correspond to a laurel wreath, but to an intertwined wreath of flowers , symbol of prosperity and spring.

Modelled in the round as a facing female with head turned slightly right, with semi-naturalistic facial detailing and dressed hair; lead-filled. 4.2 kg, 13.5 cm high



Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.

Steelyard weights in the form of human or deities' faces were not uncommon in the Roman period (see SWYOR-DA4426, OXON-4391B5, HAMP-BD4D67 and NARC-7A7B81 on the PAS). These were generally filled with lead and had iron or copper suspension loops projecting from the top of the head.