Roman Silver Swan-Necked Ligula Spoon

Substantial gently curving body with wide tail and showing all three fins, head absent. 49 grams, 67 mm



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

Translucent with straight sides narrowing to the dimpled base, flared and rolled rim, the body decorated with two horizontal ribbed lines. 104 grams, 10.5 cm



Swiss private collection, Basel. Before that in a Swiss private collection, Bern. Previously with Sayd & Fayez Barakat & Sons, Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Shaher Barakat, Jerusalem. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

The Hebrew word 'zekhukhith' (glass) appeared in the Old Testament, but it was frequently used in the Mishnaic Hebrew and in correlation with the Aramaic 'zegugita'. In the Talmudic times white and coloured, transparent glasses were very valuable. This magnificent goblet was found on Mons Scopus, in Jerusalem and it shows the skill and the capacity of the Roman glass blowers of the time. After the establishment and unification of the Roman Empire under Augustus (27 B.C.), glass manufacturing quickly travelled throughout the Empire, and with the ease of production, glass entered the same sphere of use and popularity as metal and clay vessels.

A cuboid dice with pellet markings arranged 1:6, 2:5, 3:4. 15 grams, 12 mm



From a Lincolnshire gentleman's collection, acquired early 2000s. Property of a private collector, West London, UK. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.