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LOT 0081
Roman Satyr Traveller Gemstone in Gold Ring
1ST-3RD CENTURY A.D.
1 in. (8.22 grams, 27.20 mm overall, 22.95 mm internal diameter (approximate size British O, USA 7, Europe 14.98, Japan 14)).
A garnet cabochon with intaglio satyr traveller advancing with staff and pouch over his shoulder, set into a later gold finger ring.
ProvenanceAcquired 1960s-1990s.
Late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11619-199018.
Cf. Chadour, A.B., Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 321, for type; Richter, G.M.A., Engraved Gems of the Romans, London, 1971, no.184.
FootnotesThe subject was popular on Roman gems: Silenus and the satyrs, grotesque hedonists, unrestrained in their desire for sex and wine, and yet immortal companions of Dionysus, were considered ‘cruder than men and yet somehow wiser, combining mischief with wisdom, lewdness with skill in music, animalism with divinity'. The counterpoint of the divine and the atavistic appealed to the Roman sense of moral superiority.
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Roman 'Thames' Samian Ware Stamped Fragment Group
1st-2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £104
A group of six Samian ware vessel bases labelled 'a-f', each stamped to the interior base; accompanied by an information sheet identifying the relevant workshop and approximate date: 'a. COSRVF Cosivs and Rufinus South Gaul late 1st century; b.Caddiron Caddiron Langres ?; c. BALBINVS F Balbinus (Fecit) Lubie early 2nd century; d.TITVRONIS O Tituro (officina workshop) Central Gaul early 2nd century; e. ALBVS F Albus Central Gaul early 2nd century; f. ]IVCVN ?'. 328 grams total, 4.2-13.7 cm
Found Billingsgate spoil from the Thames foreshore, London, UK. Acquired on the UK antiques market between 1974-1985. Albert Ward collection, Essex, UK. Accompanied by a typed original identification document from the Museum of London dated 29th August 1984. -
Roman 'Thames' Samian Ware Stamped Fragment Group
Circa 2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
A group of seven stamped Samian ware vessel bases including specimens labelled by the collector; accompanied by a copy of the collector's typed notes, identifying four of the stamps: 'g. MARCELLI I F Marcellinus Central Gaul mid 2nd century; h. ANNIO F Annius Central Gaul early 2nd century; i. NOBILIANI Nobilianus Central Gaul; j. SOLINI.OFI Solinus (officiana) Central Gaul mid 2nd century'; three non-identified stamps, possibly reading 'AEIOX.E; [ ]ERNI; MAX[]M'. 278 grams total, 3.8-10.3 cm
Found Billingsgate spoil from the Thames foreshore, London, UK. Acquired on the UK antiques market between 1974-1985. Albert Ward collection, Essex, UK. Accompanied by a copy of a typed original identification document from the Museum of London dated 29th August 1984. -
Roman Horse Head Whorl Brooch
3rd-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £598
A bronze swastika-shaped fibula with horse-head decoration, each head with punched ring-and-dot eye, a similar motif to the centre. 16.7 grams, 45 mm
Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.
In the 3rd century A.D., several examples of fibulae in the shape of four horses’ heads forming a swastika (type Almgren 232) seem to be related to the creation of the Illyrian cavalry corps in Roman army. Many examples of these military fibulae were found in ancient Roman Dacia (Romania), in Roman Illyricum and Moesia.