Roman Phallic Pendant

A redware ceramic fragment with moulded low-relief decoration of a victorious Auriga (chariot-driver) standing in his chariot with four rearing horses yoked to it; geometric detail to his tunic, a frond in his bent left arm and a whip in his raised right hand; incised bilinear lettering '-TA' to the left and 'PV- / TO[V?]-' to the right in Greek letters; modern mounting loop to the reverse. 74 grams, 90 mm



Acquired 1960s-1990s. From the late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.

The pottery fragment shows an image of a charioteer in the moment of victory, with his left hand carrying a palm branch. The iconography is visible in the monument of Porphyrios in Constantinople and the charioteers of the Baccano mosaics. The detailed representation of the Auriga shows the attributes of his work: he wears a close-fitting undershirt with sleeves (γυμναστικiον) and an ornamented sleeveless tunic over it, leaving the knees exposed as is typical for charioteers (αυριγαριον).

A gold finger ring with flared shoulders, ellipsoid inset haematite intaglio profile bust of young Herakles. 6.63 grams, 21.95 mm overall, 16.32 mm internal diameter (approximate size British I, USA 4 1/4, Europe 7.44, Japan 7)



Private European collection, acquired 2001.

A bronze model of a horse standing with head erect, saddlecloth, girth and bridle ring modelled integrally. 116 grams, 66 mm high



Acquired 1990s. Ex French collection.