Roman Iridescent Glass Flask

Well preserved rectangular tablet made of cedar wood with a recessed panel to the inner face, the outer face flat and not inscribed; the second and last tablet of a Roman sales contract; the inner face inscribed in Roman cursive script using ink and calamus, fourteen lines of Roman cursive script written within the recess; two small holes both near the upper and lower rim (for binding the tablets of this document together); the text consists of dispositions regarding the sale of a special category of land (gemiones) and ends with the obligatory stipulatio formula: 'stipulata est Macrinia B., spopondidit Iulius L. – Macrinia B. stipulated, Iulius L. (as the vendor) gave the counter promise'. 44.3 grams, 15.6 x 14.1 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 an illustrated academic report by Professor Dr phil. Peter Rothenhöfer.

Comprising three pairs of tweezers, each with linear decoration and one with a suspension loop. 23.6 grams total, 54-75 mm



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

Longer tweezers with serrated ends served as an essential component of surgical instruments for better and safer grasping of human tissue. Some of them had gripping arms that widened considerably downwards.

With open wings and head formed as a rounded knob; pin, spring and catch to the reverse. 2.94 grams, 32 mm



Acquired on the UK art market before 2000. Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman.