Roman Terracotta Wine Flagon

Matched pair of gold earrings, each a twisted wire hoop with domed ellipsoid shield and hook-and-eye closure; two radiating granules to the lower edge each with a graduated granule cluster below. 1.97 grams total, 17-18 mm



From a collection of a London lady, acquired annually during 1990s-2000s.

Two military mounts, each roughly triangular with a curved underside; the smaller with a feline modelled in the round at the narrow end; the larger with a similar animal amf comma-leaf detailing at the wider end. 78.2 grams total, 53-67 mm



Found Hampshire, UK.

The comma-leaf ornament on the larger piece is indicative of Roman military metalwork around the time of the conquest of Gaul (circa 55 B.C.), after which large numbers of local troops were recruited into the Roman army. Gallic ornaments of La Tène style influenced the equipment of the legions formed at this time.

The upper part of a Beneficiarius dedicatory spear or sceptre, comprising a circular-section shaft with an ivy leaf finial, a crescent (lunula) below and the point with triple acorn-shaped spheres; the lower end of the shaft square-section and with a rosette for attaching it to the wooden part, engraved with X-motifs and circumferential lines. 62 grams, 49 cm



Found Cambridgeshire, UK. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

The beneficiarii, within the Roman army, were soldiers exempted from menial duties and acting as orderlies of senior officers; they were also charged with particular duties by governors and generals. Their distinctive insignia were decorated spears, often with a point shaped like an ivy leaf. The military stela from Perinth depicting a 3rd century beneficiarius shows a very similar spear, mounted over a particular structure on the midshaft of the spear.