Roman Silver Lunar Pendant

With tapering body, flat shoulder, short neck and rolled rim. 47 grams, 10.7 cm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

Advancing wearing an ankle-length toga drawn over the head as a cowl, the left hand supporting a partly-unfurled scroll; mounted on a custom-made stand. 149 grams total, 88 mm high including stand



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.

The statuette represents a priest dressed in a tunic and large cloak, the hem of which covers the head (capite velato). His right hand had to hold a portion of incense, while with his left hand he holds a container for the same incense.

The hoop recessed and decorated with a simple plait formed with three separate rods; granulated pyramids beneath the square bezel framed with a pelletted band, raised setting with a green glass cabochon. 4.69 grams, 22.63 mm overall, 16.86 mm internal diameter (approximate size British M 1/2, USA 6 1/4, Europe 13.09, Japan 12)



Private collection USA. From the Alexander Gallery, New York, USA, in the early 2000s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12106-214327.

Previously these rings were generally dated later, however, according to Chadour, the shape is more typical of the 2nd-3rd century A.D. The gem however can also be of later date, because the use of the emerald was more typical of the late empire. The decoration of the shoulders with the plait reminisces Celto-Roman patterns.