Roman Terracotta Wine Flagon

Zoomorphic bow brooch with hexagonal-section head and hinge for the pin, bow forming the horse's body and smaller bow for the neck with hatched mane; catch formed by the forelegs. 16.5 grams, 37 mm



Acquired on the London art market in the late 1980s-1990s. From the family collection of an East London, UK, gentleman.

With raised central boss and peripheral discs with red enamel alternating with openwork loops; the body with a double band of blue, white and red enamelling, separated by ropework bands; remains of pin hinge and catchplate to the reverse; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 61 grams total, 56 mm including stand



From a private New Jersey collection, 1960-1985. with Artemis Gallery, Colorado, USA, 8 March 2016, no.45. Private American collection, New York, USA.

A similar brooch is preserved in the Colchester Museum, and similarly decorated brooch discs are visible in the British Museum and have been found in Chesterholm, Vindolanda and Chepstow. It is a Roman provincial type used by military personnel and their families.

With brown slip, loop handle to the rear, the discus with a facing bust of a young woman within a concentric circle border; maker's mark 'LCΛPΓ' within tabula ansata-shaped stamp. 63 grams, 10.2 cm



Acquired on the European art market, 1980s. English private collection.

The discus decorations of these lamps are various: Diana, Dioscuri, Sol and Luna, Africa, Lares, and griffin; portraits of Domitian, Hadrian, male head, bust of a young man, bust of a young woman (our specimen), bust of a bearded old man, fisherman, and an aulete; scorpion, boar, and lion with crocodile; etc. They were an African production and not less than seven worskshops have been individuated: M N O V I V, M N O V I V S T (our case) , M N O V I V S T I , I V N I A L E X I, C C O R V R S , E X F N A / LV C C E I O R V M . Here we can add LCAPIT (Lucius Capito).