Roman Orange Glass Bead Necklace String

With a low conical body and a slightly convex wall, a tall cylindrical neck flaring to the mouth with a rolled rim. 32.9 grams, 12.9 cm



Acquired in the 1990s from London dealerships and auction houses. From the Lonson collection.

Scaraboid type with incuse design to the underside of an elephant with stars above; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 3.04 grams, 17 mm



From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s.

The Romans first encountered elephants in Pyrrhos' army, and the representation of elephants in Roman art begins from this period. Victorious emperors like Caesar and Vespasian celebrated elephants on their coins. Apart from the celebration of elephants as ‘war machines’, the image of elephants was linked to other aspects in the Roman Imperial Period. Before becoming emperor, Elagabalus was one of the priests of Helios-Sun worship in Emesa. He had elephant depictions on his coins during his reign. The elephants raise their heads to the sun when the sun rises. Thus, the sun is represented on the gemstone together with the elephant.

Discoid lamp with low-relief decoration on the shoulder, concentric circles on the base. 42 grams, 81 mm



From the collection of a Cambridge, UK, gentleman, by direct descent from his father, who acquired the items in London in circa 1960.