Roman Period Iridescent Glass Bottle with Pimples

Comprising: the stylised head of a dolphin; a shell; fish with head and scale detailing, suspension loop to tail; fish with loop to head. 122 grams total, 33-76 mm



‘The Ancient Menagerie Collection’ formerly the property of a Cambridgeshire lady, collected since the 1990s and acquired from auctions and dealers throughout Europe and the USA, now ex London collection.

Portraying an elderly male figure with pointed chin and pierced ear; repaired fragment. 49 grams, 71 mm



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

Two adjoining parts of an inked wooden tablet, comprising 13 lines of text to the recessed upper face with two piercings to the lower edge; the reverse with an inked inscription reading 'TESTAMENTVUM / POMPONIMAXIMI' (the will of Pomponius Maximus); the 13 lines of inked cursive text following the grain of the wood, the text containing instructions from a will concerning the inheritance of fields on the Mustulo estate (fundus Mustulo), to a Iulius Dancharrus (son of the testator); a field with eight fig-trees, bought from a Iulius Castricius, and several sheep to 'my beloved daughter Zabullania'. 64 grams total, 19.5-20 cm wide



From an important London collection since 1975. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by searcher certificate no. 200269.

The text is written in a very formulaic language typical of Roman legal-documents (among other things, familia testamenti faciundi erga emit Iul. Maianus: the entire possessions, in order to make a will, was bought by Iul. Maianus).