Roman Silver 'SPES BONA' Crossbow Brooch

Frieze fragment with bust of a male in animated pose, head tilted upwards and eyes wide open; the hair executed in successive curly waves around the thick brow, the broad nose merging into the small open mouth; short curly beard on the neck but face clean-shaven; with steel mounting rod beneath. 9.85 kg, 31 cm



Private collection of a sculptor, Munich; acquired in the 1970s on the Munich art market (Ohlendorf). Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate no.S00044779. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12478-228802. 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.

The subject seems to be a retainer of military commanders, usually represented on their sarcophagi in wild hunting parties where men, lions and boars fight. It is highly probable that the head was originally from a massive sarcophagus of a general, like the one in Palazzo Mattei in Rome.

Figurine of Mars finely modelled as a mature bearded male figure and clothed in a tunic and muscled cuirass (thorax statos); the right arm raised to strike with a weapon (absent) and the left, extended forward from the body, would have held a shield (absent); Pseudo-Corinthian helmet with a large double crest; the muscled cuirass worn over a padded garment (subarmalis) with two ranges of plates (pteryges); the legs bare; mounted on an integral socle base with stub feet; old collector's label stating 'Found at the site of a Roman Commandant's building, Roman fort near Munich. Bronze military votive altar statuette.' and 'Roman votive statuette of Mrs God of war on Orig plinth / found at fort site Munich, nr Commandant's building. Buried actual piece.'. 49.3 grams, 84 mm



Found Munich, Germany. Acquired from Brigantia Antiques, York, UK, circa 2007. Ian Wilkinson collection, Nottinghamshire, UK, formed since 1985. Accompanied by two old handwritten dealer's tickets. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

A large group of mixed beads in stone, lapis lazuli, glass, and faience. 148 grams total, 1-33 mm



Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.