Roman Iridescent Glass Unguentarium

Standing in contrapposto pose, wearing a cloak draped from the right shoulder and tucked around the left arm supporting a caduceus with snake-head finials; broad-brimmed petasos with wings on the crown; the right arm held vertically at the side supporting the marsupium coin-purse; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 111 grams total, 88 mm including stand



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.

Mercury was the god of trade and industry, whose principle shrine in the city of Rome was at the Circus Maximus. The draped mantle is typical for statuary of Mercury from the 1st-2nd century A.D. (Boucher, pl.40, 43) as is the caduceus (Boucher, pl.46 (211)).

With flange handle to the rear, band of fronds and squares to the shoulder, dove with olive branch in its beak to the discus. 83 grams, 12.1 cm



Acquired 1960s-1990s. From the late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.

Aqua-coloured glass lamp-work bangle with ribbed construction. 29.5 grams, 66 mm



Acquired from Allan Cherry, Bournemouth, UK, 2005. Ian Wilkinson collection, Nottinghamshire, UK. Accompanied by an illustrated display card.

The type is well known in the Eastern Empire from the 5th to the 7th century A.D. Usually these bracelets are decorated on outer surface with five continuous parallel horizontal ribs.