Roman Marble Head of a Man

Composed mainly of polychrome glass, faience, lapis lazuli and other beads of various sizes and types, including tubular, annular, spherical, ribbed and other types. 67 grams total, 2-68 mm



Ex W.J. collection, 1990s.

Modelled in the round with closely-cropped hair. 19.2 kg, 31 cm high



Acquired 1960s-1990s. Late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.

Modelled in relief with openwork elements, stylised detailing to both figures; hollow reverse. 182 grams, 10.2 cm high



Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.

Hollow cast bronze images of Eros riding a lion are linked to the Eastern Levant and have been found for example in Tamna, probably a Roman import. The importance of the long-distance contacts within the Eastern Mediterranean areas was rapidly reflected in provincial artistic styles, probably as soon as in Hellenistic times, at the beginning of the third century B.C., possibly even earlier. The unquestionable Greek influence led a number of scholars to define three main styles for the bronzes discovered in the eastern Roman provinces: a local type and iconography locally produced, Greek or Roman imports, and Oriental, Hellenistic, or Roman style, locally produced.