Roman Silver Bowl

A fragment of a redware oil lamp comprising the discus and shoulder, part of the nozzle and part of the handle; the shoulder with finely moulded running vine scroll ornament; the discus pierced in two places with a scene involving a tree with a roofed structure in the branches, and a child seated with legs dangling over the edge of the platform, playing a wind instrument, a bird perched above the roof, a hare and pursuing hound to the right and a second child on the left descending from the platform on a rope; modern mounting fixed to the reverse, repaired. 81 grams, 12 cm



Acquired 1960s-1990s. From the late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.

A slender gold finger ring with loops and granule to each shoulder, beaded wire rim to the cell, inset agate cloison with intaglio fish. 2.38 grams, 24.55 mm overall, 23.14 mm internal diameter (approximate size British W, USA 11, Europe 25, Japan 24)



English private collection.

A set of four copper-alloy triclinium (bed) finials, each with a bell-shaped body and baluster style finial; hollow to base. 1.18 kg total, 9.6-10.1 cm



Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.

The Romans, like the Greeks, ate whilst reclined on beds. The eating bed (lectus triclinaris) was a luxury furniture item crafted by carpenters. From the 2nd century B.C., Romans started to create 'lecti aerati, inargentati, inaurati, eborati, testudinei,' i.e. beds made of wood and covered with bronze, silver, gold and ivory fittings (as in our specimens) or with scales of other precious material. Such elements were sometimes sculpted in the shape of an animal protome, or were simply bell-shaped, like our specimens.