Roman Tall Glass Flask

Bell-shaped with thickened rim and rounded underside. 322 grams, 13.2 cm wide

Usage wear.

Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private Swiss collection since 1998.

Well preserved rectangular tablet made of cedar wood with a recessed panel to the inner face, the outer face flat and not inscribed; the second and last tablet of a Roman sales contract; the inner face inscribed in Roman cursive script using ink and calamus, fourteen lines of Roman cursive script written within the recess; two small holes both near the upper and lower rim (for binding the tablets of this document together); the text consists of dispositions regarding the sale of a special category of land (gemiones) and ends with the obligatory stipulatio formula: 'stipulata est Macrinia B., spopondidit Iulius L. – Macrinia B. stipulated, Iulius L. (as the vendor) gave the counter promise'. 44.3 grams, 15.6 x 14.1 cm



Acquired by Albert Sfez in the early 1950s. Formerly the property of Monsieur Alain Sfez, a Belgian collector; acquired by gift from his father, Albert Sfez, in 1965. Acquired by a London dealer in 1973. From an important London collection since 1975; thence by descent. Accompanied by a copy of an illustrated academic report by Professor Dr phil. Peter Rothenhöfer.

Two domed gaming pieces, one sky blue and the other brown. 1.85 grams total, 11-12 mm



Acquired from Ancient Art Shop, Berkshire, UK. From the collection of a Nottingham, UK, collector, established from the early 2000s. Accompanied by the original Ancient Art Shop certificate of authenticity.