Roman Terracotta Jar

Crouching adult male lion with forepaws extended. 24.7 grams, 36 mm wide



Acquired in the late 1960s-early 1970s. Ex property of a European gentleman. Acquired on the UK art market in 2015. Property of a Kent lady collector.

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.

Oval in shape, engraved with an advancing male figure holding a long curved staff on his shoulder, a water skin hanging from the rear end and a low dish from the other, a leaping hound at his feet. 0.71 grams, 15 mm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.