Roman Silver Dish

Modelled in relief with openwork elements, stylised detailing to both figures; hollow reverse. 182 grams, 10.2 cm high



Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.

Hollow cast bronze images of Eros riding a lion are linked to the Eastern Levant and have been found for example in Tamna, probably a Roman import. The importance of long-distance contacts within the Eastern Mediterranean areas was rapidly reflected in provincial artistic styles, probably as soon as in Hellenistic times, at the beginning of the third century B.C., possibly even earlier. The unquestionable Greek influence led a number of scholars to define three main styles for the bronzes discovered in the eastern Roman provinces: a local type and iconography locally produced, Greek or Roman imports, and Oriental, Hellenistic, or Roman style, locally produced.

With horizontal banding to the lower body, high-relief moulded vine and grape decoration to the shoulder, loop handle and raised rim; rare. 211 grams, 11.5 cm wide



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

Curved ceramic fragment with high-relief image to the inner face, female in short-sleeved undergarment and outer stola draped over her head as a hood, holding a rod in her left hand and extending her right arm across her body. 19.6 grams, 63 mm



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