Roman Green Glass Weight

Iron shoe with lateral curved plates with attachment rings rear panel with bar also for attachment. 363 grams, 15 cm



From the collection of the famous author, writer and speaker, Gordon Bailey, Essex, UK; formed since 1968.

Hipposandals (soleae ferreae) were used on horses with injured hooves, a sort of equine orthopaedic shoe used by the mulomedicus, i.e. a Roman military veterinarian. Another important function was that to protect the hooves of the horse from injuries and damages from hard objects. The hippo sandal of type 1 was formed from a sub-oval plate which tapered towards the front and rear with projections at the front, back and on either side. The heel was upturned at about 45 degrees and flared outwards. It would have terminated with a downward facing hook, now missing. The base of the sole was flat.

A Henig Type I ring circular in shape set with a chalcedony intaglio decorated with Victory standing in front of a column. 1.01 grams, 16.06 mm overall, 13.31 mm internal diameter (approximate size British D 1/2, USA 2, Europe 1.78, Japan 1)



Found near Welshpool, Wales, UK, on 23 October 2019. Accompanied by a copy of a Welshpool Portable Antiquities data sheet with PAS reference no.WREX-2A4F27.

Carved in high-relief, a high-status female wearing a palla with a loosely draped stola draped from the left shoulder and arm and drawn across the hips; the left forearm resting on the head of a figure of Venus on a socle base, socket to accept separately carved left hand (absent); mounting sockets to neck and right hip; plain to the reverse; mounted on a custom-made stand. 23 kg total, 55.5 cm including stand



Private collection, England. 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.12228-215645.