Roman Terracotta Fragment and Tesserae Group

The bowl with a wide flat bottom and convex sides; the inside with incised concentric circles; flat handle with raised edges and hooked finial for suspension. 483 grams, 39.5 cm



German private collection, Mr O., collecting in the 1950s-1960s; thence by descent. with Bonhams, London, 7 July 2016, lot 191. 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.11735-201189.

This vessel was part of Roman and provincial bronze instrumentum domesticum, i.e. culinary or domestic utility ware. Such cooking vessels are rare: some are found in central and northern Italy, in Pannonia, Germany and in Britain. The Aylesford Pan, today in the British Museum (inventory no.1886.1112.1), is one of the most important finds. This specimen (Eggers type 130), probably pre-Caesarian or Caesarian, was found in a grave together with a Celtic bucket and a jug.

With globular body and basal ring, tall columnar neck with biconical collar, single strap handle to the rear. 305 grams, 15 cm



From the collection of a High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, UK, gentleman, circa 2000.

Slightly concave base, a piriform body with tapered shoulders, a lightly corseted neckline beneath a cylindrical neck, and a splayed rim with an in-folded lip. 81 grams, 11.6 cm high



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

The ampulla was, in Ancient Rome, a small round vessel, usually made of glass and used for sacred purposes. The term can also refer to later flasks, often flatter and without handles, typically used as pilgrim souvenirs. Materials include glass, ceramics and metal. An unguentarium is a bottle believed to have been used to store perfume. Such vessels were often produced in Gaul.