Roman Silver and Bronze Artefact and Coin Group

Broadly spool-shaped with a squat body, cylindrical neck and flared rolled rim. 25.6 grams, 53 mm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

With concentric lines of openwork ornament in lanceolate shapes, ending with crescent decorations. 40 grams, 86 mm

Mostly intact, good condition.

Acquired from Gallery Gryphos, Munich, 1997. European private collection. 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.11998-211928.

In the 3rd century A.D. Roman army, the old ring suspension system of the sword, of Celtic and Iberian origin, was abandoned. The sword was now mainly carried suspended from a broad baldric on the soldier’s left side. The high quality of the openwork decoration of our phalera and the precious silver of which it is made imply that it may have once belonged to a commissioned officer.

Grooved lug handle to rear, discus with two filling holes and a central rosette motif, foliate border to the shoulder; low basal ring and maker's mark 'E'. 173 grams, 11.5 cm



Acquired on the European art market, 1980s. English private collection.

Many lamps of this category (late lamps of Asia Minor types, sometimes just called 'late Ephesian lamps' but diffused in all of the Roman Levant) were discovered in the Seven Sleepers Cemetery at Ephesus. These lamp types have either a circular or an oval elongated body that is sharply carinated, with protruding nozzle. The shoulders are outward sloping and offer a variety of characteristic decorations in both relief and sunken patterns: rows of globules, slanted radiating grooves, ovolos, vine-tendrils and grapes, tongues or petals, and concentric rings.