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LOT 0742
Roman Ring with Sol Gemstone
CIRCA 1ST CENTURY B.C.-3RD CENTURY A.D.
3/4 in. (5.17 grams, 20.88 mm overall, 17.37 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L, USA 5 3/4, Europe 11.24, Japan 10)).
A bronze finger ring with inset carnelian cloison, intaglio Sol standing with whip.
ProvenanceAcquired before 2000.
From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.
Cf. Chadour, A.B., Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 137, for type.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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1st century B.C.-1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £650
A gold ring composed of a flat-section hoop with decorative channelling, oval bezel with granulated border, set with a flat-top polished garnet gemstone. 0.99 grams, 16.41 mm overall, 14.20 mm internal diameter (approximate size British F 1/2, USA 3, Europe 4.3, Japan 4)
Acquired 1970-2000s. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Roman Stucco Torso of an Athlete
Provincial, 2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £624
A stucco muscular torso from a cornice modelled in the half-round; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 3.05 kg total, 21.2 cm high (31 cm including stand)
Fair condition.
Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016. -
Roman Nude Crouching Woman Gaming Piece
3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,755
A bronze figure or gaming piece of a nude female in crouching pose with hands placed on the hips, possibly giving birth; the hair shown drawn up in a bun, segmented armband to each upper arm. 30.4 grams, 28 mm high
Private Swiss collection, acquired 2002.
The dice features six attitudes on which it could land when rolled, one of which includes the figure's head. The earliest concrete historical evidence of games played with dice originated from ancient Egypt, circa 3000 B.C., although it is generally believed by historians that dice pre-dated the ancient Egyptian civilisation. The Romans played two games using dice: Tali and Tesserae. The former originated in Greece and features four animal bones. The aim was to roll in such a way that each die displayed a different number-the higher the combined number, the greater the score. The latter was played using three dice, the goal being to roll triple six, or to achieve the highest combined numbers out of the contestants; it was a game of chance and the most common street and tavern gambling game in ancient Rome. ‘Dogs’ referred to poor scores and ‘Venus’ to high ones. Roman players rolled dice from a special cup called a fritillium onto wood, bronze, or marble boards, depending on their class and wealth. Roman elites boasted ornate boards inscribed with their names. The gambling which ensued from dice games caused extreme social issues in Roman society, leading the government to eventually outlaw dice games, although these laws were largely ignored.
