Roman Lead Weight Group

Comprising large tile and vessel fragments, some with inked notes; and a group of white and grey tesserae, including one large redware tessera. 2.3 kg total, 1-17 cm



Found St Albans, Hertfordshire, UK. Acquired from the finder in 2008. Property of a Nottinghamshire gentleman.

The great monuments of Verulamium were efficiently destroyed by the medieval builders of Saxon and Norman abbeys. They sought Roman bricks and, above all, limestone which could be burnt for mortar. Most of the ancient Roman town stone monuments were broken up and thrown into lime kilns. These surviving fragments give a hint of what was once there. For the monuments and buildings Romans used Northamptonshire limestone, but the more delicate, finely carved inscriptions were realised in Purbeck marble from Dorset.

With facetted angled shoulders, small plaque with inset carnelian intaglio of a dolphin with raised tail. 3.15 grams, 24.52 mm overall, 18.01 mm internal diameter (approximate size British O 1/2, USA 7 1/4, Europe 15.61, Japan 15)



Acquired on the German art market before 2000. Property of a Surrey, UK, collector.

Comprising five pieces in cream, orange, blue and red with painted architectural lines; one with floral decoration and one with a shaded 'grid' making it look three-dimensional. 622 grams total, 73 - 98 mm



Acquired in the 19th century. Ex Jeger collection, Switzerland.