Roman Terracotta Tile Sections and Tesserae Group

Square in plan with rounded shoulder and trumpet-shaped mouth; folded strap handle. 303 grams, 20.6 cm



Collection F. Martens Netherlands, 1980s-1990s. Anonymous sale, Cahn International Auction, Basel, Switzerland, 2010. Private collection, Europe.

Glass blowing was first used in the early 1st century B.C. and became widespread in the 1st century A.D. It simplified and increased the production of glass vessels, reducing their cost and transforming them into a general commodity. In the 1st century A.D., colourful glass vessels were still popular, while glass with a natural, light green colour, such as this, gained popularity in the subsequent centuries.

Comprising a tapering body with a Corinthian capital finial, a standing female figure atop the capital, dressed in long robes. 16 grams, 98 mm



Acquired in the 1980s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s.

The pin seems to belong to the group 18 of the Cool's classification. The treatment of the figures in these pins varies greatly, including both the very 'Celtic' looking face on a pin from Cirencester and a Graeco-Roman figure type of Venus standing on a Corinthian capital from London. This great diversity of treatments clearly suggests that these pins were the occasional products of a wide variety of workshops.

With a dimple base; applied trail to the flared mouth forming a handle. 38 grams, 10 cm



From a specialist collection of glass, acquired from dealerships during the 1990s.