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LOT 0707
Roman Green Glass Bead Necklace String
1ST-4TH CENTURY A.D. AND LATER
18 1/8 in. (16.4 grams, 46 cm).
Composed of graduated bead with two larger beads as a central feature; restrung. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom the London, UK, art market in the 1990s.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
For example of similar green Roman beads see Then-Obluska, J., ‘Beads and pendants from the Hellenistic to early Byzantine Red Sea port of Berenike, Egypt, Seasons 2014 and 2015’ in Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean, 27/1, 2018, pp.203–234, figs.3a, 4,5,7.
FootnotesIn the Roman period there was a strong formal and chromatic diversity of glass beads used for necklaces and bracelets. The most common beads in forms were small biconical (lenticular), barrel-shaped, spherical and annular; the most common colours were dark blue, followed by green and yellow. The succession of glass beads often imitates jewellery made of costly materials (gold, silver, semi-precious and precious stones).
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AUCTIONS:
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Roman Inked Wooden Tablet with Testamentary Dispositions of Emilius Vernucius
Circa 300 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £7,280
Well preserved square tablet with a recessed panel to each face and two holes to accept thongs, probably the third tablet of a Roman will made by Emilius Vernucius around 300 A.D., two small holes at the upper rim (for binding the tablets of this document together); the text of the inner and first half of the outer face consisting of testamentary dispositions always starting with the verbs do lego, slaves, fields, buildings, and sums of money are mentioned; at the end the mancipatory formula of Roman testaments can be read, mentioned are the familiae emptor and the libripens as well as the first of the witnesses, Emilius Cerealius. 99 grams, 21 x 19.5 cm
Acquired by Albert Sfez in the early 1950s. Formerly the property of Monsieur Alain Sfez, a Belgian collector; acquired by gift from his father Albert Sfez, in 1965. Acquired by a London dealer in 1973. From an important London collection since 1975; thence by descent. Accompanied by a copy of a four page academic report by Professor Dr phil. Peter Rothenhöfer. Accompanied by a collection of four old black and white photographs of the the tablet. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12599-230809. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Late Roman Bronze Cross Pendant
4th-5th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
Scaphoid in plan with raised rim to the obverse, cruciform arrangement of ring-and-dot motifs. 3.6 grams, 29 mm
Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Roman Blue Glass Bead Necklace String
1st-4th century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £98
Composed mainly of oblate and annular beads, restrung to a Y-shape. 11.96 grams, 41 cm
From the London, UK, art market in the 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Such necklaces testify to the popularity of glass ornaments across the Roman Empire. Roman jewellery at first followed trends set by the Etruscans, using gold and glass beads, but with the extension of the Empire and the adoption of different styles from Greece, Egypt and North Africa, jewellery designs became increasingly various and elaborate. Each bead of this beautiful necklace is unique in shape, lustre and speckling, creating a mosaic like impression. Blue glass beads are distinguished by the scholars in opaque mid-blue and deep translucent cobalt blue.
