Roman Medical Implements and Palette

A carved marble herm boundary marker carved in the round as the bust of an adult male wearing a conical cap and with a full beard; dorsal pillar terminating behind the head. 7.3 kg, 31.5 cm high



French collection, 1960s-early 2000s. From an important Paris gallery, France. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11629-199364.

Possibly an architectural element or herm: herma (Ancient Greek: ἑρμῆς, usually called a 'herm' in English), is a sculptured stone block with a head and often a chest above an undecorated lower section on which male genitals may additionally be carved. From the Neolithic period onwards, in parts of Europe, divinities were worshipped in the form of either a heap of stones (cairn) or a wooden column. Piles of stones were created beside roads and at the borders of fields as they were cleared of pebbles, and religious respect was shown through the custom of each passer-by throwing a stone on the heap or offering a libation. In due course, the addition of a carved head (and phallus) to the column encouraged the belief that these monuments were especially favoured by divinities.

A bronze strigil with C-section profile to the blade, rectangular handle with lateral flanges. 44 grams, 22 cm



Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private Swiss collection since 1998.

A bronze ring composed of a D-section hoop with overlapping arms, the discoid bezel displaying a fylfot with remains of an enamelled field. 2.17 grams, 22.62 mm overall, 19.94 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q, USA 8, Europe 17.49, Japan 16)



Private collection formed since the 1940s. UK art market. Property of an Essex gentleman.