Roman Silver Ring with Glass Insect Intaglio

A marble head of a lady or a goddess from a statuette, carved in the round with semi-naturalistic facial features and dressed hair with fillet; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 477 grams total, 12 cm high



London art market, 1988.

The head could represent a late Aphrodite, when compared with heads of the goddess of small late Roman statuettes. In these examples, like here, the goddess’ face is typical of idealised late-mythological statuary, with heavy eyelids, pronounced brow ridges, small lips and a soft jaw.

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 lead seal tag bearing two oval-shaped impressions containing figural motifs: the smaller impression possibly a standing winged figure facing right; the larger impression portraying a standing figure holding an object. 15.19 grams, 36 mm



Acquired in the 1970s. Important European collection.