Roman Silver Ring with Carnelian Gemstone

Single-edged ferrous blade with angled tip, hexagonal-section hilt with incised ribbing, dog-head finial with open mouth to accept a securing cord. 28.7 grams, 12.7 cm



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Comprising a D-section hoop with raised shoulders, rectangular bezel set with an amethyst intaglio engraved with an advancing bird. 3.33 grams, 20.86 mm overall, 14.24 mm internal diameter (approximate size British G, USA 3 1/4, Europe 4.92, Japan 4)



Acquired on the UK art market before 2000. Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Birds were often involved in the religious life of Greeks and Romans. For example, the foundation ceremony of a city had fixed rules, involving the augurs’ interpretation of allegedly divine omens, such as the flight patterns of birds. Birds were often used for children’s rings: from the villa or palace of Fishbourne, Sussex, came a gold child’s ring containing a diminutive chrome chalcedony engraved with a bird.

Two rectangular fragments from a sarcophagus in classical style, comprising: an element serving as a corner, with the left part raised and decorated inside with floral and vegetal ornaments, enclosed within a border, on the base a griffin's head in low-relief; the body decorated with vertical streaks alternating with vegetal elements; a second element consisting of a slightly convex body, with a sculpted decoration in low-relief depicting a putto armed with a bow and his dog hunting a rearing deer; vegetal elements in the background. 36.8 kg total, 21.6-30 cm including stand



with Hermann Historica, Munchen, 19 October 2005, no.197. Private collection, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12760-237142. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Many sarcophagi from Roman times depict hunting scenes. As a rule, the main figure among the hunters is on the sarcophagus itself, riding a horse; other hunters may also be on horseback. Non-standard types could have been chosen for the depiction of the hunt, like erotes hunting animals. The popularity of scenes depicting figures such as playful erotes and mythological couples lasted until the early 4th century, eventually waning in favour of scenes that displayed the aristocrat’s wealth and property.