Roman Sheet-Gold Phalera Cover with Imperial Bust

Comprising a pierced bulb finial and tapering shank with horizontal bands, ribbed median section and flat panel with perpendicular pierced disc finia; inscribed with Latin letters 'LV. HINT'. 25 grams, 84 mm



Acquired on the London, UK, art market in the 1990s. From a gentleman's private collection.

The fragment is possibly the upper part of a sharp pointed retractor, which was used for delicate operations on the tonsils and other internal parts of the body. The inscription probably refers to the name of the doctor, possibly LV[CIV]S HINT[IUS].

Comprising: a leaf-shaped bone spatula with pointed tang; stylus with twisted grip and median baluster, rectangular head with erasing blade; slender bronze probe (cyathiscomele) with one pointed end, small measuring spoon to the other and median baluster with incised pellets; mounted in a glass-fronted wooden case. 750 grams total, 22 x 32 cm



Private collection, USA, formed in the 1980s.

A rare depiction of Flora standing holding a separately cast garland in her left hand, wearing pointed shoes, a long tunica talaris and a himation as a veil over her head, her hair surmounted by a diadem decorated with rosettes and falling in long wavy tresses in front, the pupils of her eyes indented; mounted on a custom-made tiered base. 617 grams total, 25.7 cm high including stand



From an Egyptian family collection, Alexandria and Cairo, acquired in the early part of the 20th century in Egypt and Europe, and transferred from Egypt to northern European family residences in the early 1950s. Northern European private collection, by direct descent from the above in the 1970s. Acquired from the above by the previous owner in 2002. with Sotheby’s, New York, 5 June 2013, no.88. German private collection. Accompanied by copies of the German cultural export licence and copies of the relevant Sotheby’s catalogue pages. 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 a search certificate number no.12042-216438.

Statuettes like the present one were used in the service of domestic cults and reflected native Greek or Roman cult practices. The Roman household shrine, or lararium, receives its name from the lares, the guardian spirits of the house and household, who were frequently displayed in the shrine, either in painted or sculpted form.