Roman Military Bronze Belt Mount Collection

Comprising a shallow bowl fitted with handles and raised foot, the rim engraved with petals. 39 grams, 95 mm wide



From a North Yorkshire, UK, private collection. Acquired from Adam Partridge Auctioneers, Macclesfield, UK. Property of Mr A.B., an American collector.

In regards of the shape, Roman silver vessels usually fall into three classes: (1) vessels for eating; (2) vessels for drinking; (3) jugs and saucepans (trullae). The first class includes flat, circular dishes (lances), often of considerable size; the situlae or buckets, and the bowls with projecting rims (our specimen) of various dimensions. The form of the present bowl (probably used for spices, like pepper [piperatoria]) occurs all over the Mediterranean basin, and is Alexandrian in origin.

Standing nude with arms raised, legs in advancing pose. 37 grams, 60 mm



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.

The condition of the statuette does not allow a easy identification of its original characterization, but the position of the body shows a certain affinity with provincial statuettes of the god Neptune, especially produced in Gallo-Roman ateliers. Some statuettes of Sucellus, the Gallic divinity assimilated into the Roman Pantheon as the equivalent of the Dispater, brother of Jupiter, could possibly also bear resemblance with our statuette for the position of the body.

Hollow-formed sheet gold sleeve with three ribbed suspension loop with applied granules, granule clusters to the lower edge, corrugated surface and applied filigree trails. 2.34 grams, 33 mm



Collected from 1970-1999. From the collection of the late Mr S.M., London, UK.