Roman Silver Ring with 'God of War' Gemstone

Ellipsoid cameo with profile portrait bust in gold pendant frame with surrounding cabochons: emerald, sapphire, ruby - and clusters of pearls; marked to reverse '750', in a rectangle 'B&G' (believed to be an upstate New York jeweller's stamp) and an indeterminate third mark; supplied with a custom-made display stand. 99 grams total, 92 mm including stand, pendant: 50 mm



American collection, early 20th century, New York. with Robert Haber Gallery, New York, 1990. Ex Jean Clostre, Geneva, Switzerland. Accompanied by an scholarly report by Dr Ittai Gradel. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12223-222312.

Dr Ittai Gradel says: 'The cameo, of exquisite technical quality, has a close parallel in the Cabinet des médailles, Paris .. The Timeline auction cameo is not, however, an exact copy .. though details are so close to the larger Paris cameo that the same gem carver, or at least workshop, probably produced both.'

Modelled in the round and originally part of a monumental statue, the naturalistic right foot encased in a trochades leather sandal with median reversed tongue secured with side straps and thick looped laces; the thick platform sole slightly curved, toes and nails well defined; mounted on a substantial custom-made display stand. 5.84 kg total, foot: 30 cm wide



German art market. European private collection, 1970s-early 2000s. Acquired from the above; thence by descent. Private collection, London, UK. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12176-221443.

The detailed bronze foot with a possible variant of the Greek trochades sandal, known to be a traveller's sandal, is all that remains of the once monumental statue. The trochades was a sturdy traveller's open boot of Greek origin with a flat sole. In the Consular Age it was also used by officers and guardsmen. Roman sandals consisted usually of a leather sole attached to the foot with interlacing thongs.

Including Spartan Basalt, mined in Greece, cut and polished on one side; one marble fragment marked in pencil: 'VILLA / HADRIAN', another: 'OSTIA / ANTICA'; a large amphora handle; seven pottery fragments; a carved decorative edge stone; a marble core fragment; a later floor tile fragment; with an old handwritten slip with: 'VILLA HADRIAN, AUSTRIA ANTICA, Nr. ROME, ITALY.' and on the inside: 'AUSTRIA ANTICA / (Region in ancient Rome) / VILLA HADRIAN / (outside Rome)'. 1.57 kg total, 5-18.5 cm



Acquired on the UK market, since 1970. From the historic mineral collection of Richard Valentine Cain, London, UK, thence by descent.