Roman Mouse Holding Nut

A gemstone with one side incised with the head of Zeus Serapis wearing a modius crown, seen in profile to the left, surrounded by Greek letters I,Λ,φ, ν, Λ,Λ,Ϲ,Ϲ,Ε,Δ; the other side with enigmatic inscription 'BIKIω PIΗΔνMΗ IΔ φI ΛA'. 0.86 grams, 12 mm



Acquired before 1988. Ex family collection, by descent, Geneva.

Serapis was a Graeco-Egyptian god, whose cult was popularised during the 3rd century B.C. on the orders of Ptolemy I of Egypt, to facilitate the religious syncretism of his kingdom. During the Roman Empire his image was widely diffused in the east. Usually a third of these gems carry magical words which shows that they were used as amulets or for some other ritual purpose. These magical gems were inscribed with acclamations or prayers that suggest they were used as amulets for protection (in this case of Serapis) or to acquire charm, but only some of them can be linked with some divinatory or prophylactic purpose.

A substantial lead pig (ingot), sub-rectangular in plan and plano-convex in section, reserved partial numerical inscription to central recess on the upper face, possibly: ‘CCCXXXXI’ or 341 Roman libra, a denomination of weight and the original weight of the ingot. 74 kg, 48 cm

Fine condition. Rare.

Found while searching with a metal detector on Wednesday 2nd September 2020 in Witherley, Leicestershire, UK, at a depth of 57cm by Nick Thorpe. Accompanied by Portable Antiquities Scheme Report number LEIC-62F9AF. Accompanied by a copy of a full page article published in Treasure Hunting Magazine, March 2021. Accompanied by copies of four photographs taken during excavation, and a hand written letter from the finder explaining the circumstances of finding. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.10791-178320.

Although ingots are known to have been made in many shapes, the plano-convex shape was the most commonly used during the Roman period (Tylecote, 1987, p.204). The Witherley lead pig is certainly, at the moment, one of the largest of its kind found in Britain. The inscription relates to its weight in Roman libra, and it seems that originally the weight of the complete ingot was circa 110 kg. Such inscriptions appear on Roman ingots from the early Imperial Age onwards, see for example Gale Brown (2011, no.61.3ff.) The high percentage of lead in our ingot (97.9% lead, 1.5 % iron by XRF), is far higher than many other known specimens. Roman ingots are particularly important in many respects: in addition to their use for dating various phases of commercial activity, they can reveal the extent to which standardisation of weights was practised. The presence of numerical markings has led to suggestions of the existence of a 'standard weight' of 195 Roman libra (63.85 kg).

A rectangular slate mount showing the head of a tragic mask with angular eyes, straight nose and a clownish, down-turned mouth. 3 grams, 16.2 mm

Very fine condition.

Acquired from Galerie Jean Phillipe Mariaud de Serres, 1990-2000. Property of a French collector.

Small appliqués like this one were common in Roman furniture. In the Graeco-Roman world, comic and tragic masks played an important role in Greek drama, commonly performed in the Roman Empire. The actors had the ability to easily play more than one character in succession with a simple change of masks, and the characters of the masks became popular objects in the material culture.