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LOT 0158
Roman Terracotta Lamp with Fighting Gladiators
1ST-2ND CENTURY A.D.
4 7/8 in (84 grams, 12.4 cm).
Composed of a discoid body with sunken discus bearing a scene of two gladiators in combat in relief, tabula ansata below, ring handle and roughly D-shaped nozzle with volutes; old crack to base.
ProvenanceFrom a German collection.
Ex Cambridge, UK, collection, 1980s.
Cf. Gilbert, F., Devenir Gladiateur, la vie quotidienne á l'ecole de la mort, La Capelle-Marival, 2013, pp.30-31, for similar lucernae.
FootnotesThe two gladiators seem to be wearing the armaturae of murmillones. All gladiators began their career as provocatores; the learning of their combat technique was polyvalent and allowed the fighters to specialise as a large shield-bearer (the scutati) like murmillones, or as a small shield-bearer, parmati, like the oplomachus.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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Roman Bronze Openwork Equal-Arm Brooch
3rd-4th century A.D.Estimate: £100 - 140 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £50
With a wide openwork bow, short foot to each end with a stylised face; pin lugs and pin to the reverse. 16 grams, 55 mm
Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. -
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Roman Bronze Vessel with Folding Handles
1st-2nd century A.D.Estimate: £15,000 - 20,000 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £7,500
Ellipsoid in plan with low basal ring and thick convex rim, carination to the forward end; hinges to each lateral rim, the knuckles formed as addorsed duck-heads each with scrolled panel to the rear retaining the pivot of the ribbed D-shaped handles. 1.68 kg, 28 cm
Acquired in Switzerland, 1996. Private collection, Europe. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate dated 30th April 2004. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12363-226688.
This vessel (lanx) was part of Roman and provincial bronze instrumentum domesticum, i.e. culinary or domestic utility ware. The form of the bowl resembles a type of helmet with carination to the front, the handles placed as hinged cheek-protectors. -
Roman Terracotta Oil Lamp
Circa 2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £52
Miniature form with broad shoulder and dished discus, D-shaped nozzle and pierced lug handle. 28 grams, 67 mm
From the private collection of Kenneth Machin (1936-2020), Buckinghamshire, UK; his collection of antiquities and natural history was formed since 1948; thence by descent.
