Roman Pinch-Decorated Glass Bottle

The bowl with a wide flat bottom and convex sides; the inside with incised concentric circles; flat handle with raised edges and hooked finial for suspension. 483 grams, 39.5 cm



German private collection, Mr O., collecting in the 1950s-1960s; thence by descent. with Bonhams, London, 7 July 2016, lot 191. 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.11735-201189.

This vessel was part of Roman and provincial bronze instrumentum domesticum, i.e. culinary or domestic utility ware. Such cooking vessels are rare: some are found in central and northern Italy, in Pannonia, Germany and in Britain. The Aylesford Pan, today in the British Museum (inventory no.1886.1112.1), is one of the most important finds. This specimen (Eggers type 130), probably pre-Caesarian or Caesarian, was found in a grave together with a Celtic bucket and a jug.

Restrung with a modern screw clasp; composed mainly of opaque glass beads of squat, spherical form, displaying a frieze of polychrome vertical stripes. 13.7 grams, 60 cm long



UK gallery, early 2000s.

With intaglio scorpion with curved tail; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 0.52 grams, 11 mm



From the collection of a Swiss gentleman formed in Europe from 1970-1980s; thence by descent from the family in London.