Roman Silver Standing Eagle Statuette

Modelled in the round with naturalistic detailing, wings closed, with loop above for attachment to a tintinnabulum. 21 grams, 32 mm



‘The Ancient Menagerie Collection’ formerly the property of a Cambridgeshire lady, collected since the 1990s and acquired from auctions and dealers throughout Europe and the USA, now ex London collection.

Formed with stub wings, a hooked beak and circular eyes, tail folded under the body,tail feathers and a speckled or ruffled breast underlined by moulded textures; iron loop embedded in the reverse face. 700 grams, 11.2 cm



Ex Nigel Mills, London, UK.

The iron loop of the back may suggest this was attached to a vessel or other receptacle. Greek mythology associated the small white bird with Aphrodite, the goddess of love (known in Roman mythology as Venus). Venus is often depicted with doves fluttering around her or resting on her hand.

Comprising a square-section hoop with expanding shoulders, each shoulder set with a garnet cabochon and the raised square bezel with an emerald. 6.97 grams, 24.18 mm overall, 15.20 mm internal diameter (approximate size British E 1/2, USA 2 1/2, Europe 3, Japan 3)



Acquired in the late 1980s-early 1990s. Important North West London collection. 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 a search certificate number no.11783-204563.

The presence of emerald suggests that the place of origin of this ring could have been in Roman Egypt, and the good colour of the emerald proposes a dating to the 4th to 5th century A.D.