Roman Tinned Bronze Galley Brooch

Comprising a matching pair of earrings, each composed of a hollow crescentic body tapering to slender coiled wire terminals, a suspension loop to each shoulder, large tear-shaped cell to front with granulated border, set with a polished garnet cabochon, gold bulbs below in the form of a bunch of grapes, adorned with smaller granules and three cells set with polished garnet cabochons; the necklace elements comprising graduated beads, alternating between roughly spherical polished garnets and sheet-gold beads of various types including gusseted, biconical and tubular, two floral filigree pendants flanking a central pendant ornamented with 'plaited' and plain filigree wire with granules to the outside, finial of trefoil bulbs, central corrugated cell set with a polished garnet cabochon; mounted on a custom-made perspex display base. 435 grams total, display stand: 30 x 23.5 cm (earrings: 38 mm each)



Ex private European collection, 1970s. with Genève Enchères, 14 December 2017, no.999. 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.11584-199015. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Beryls, used as small pendants, and not placed horizontally, characterised Roman necklaces of 2nd century A.D. A typical example is the necklace found in the grave of Crepereia Tryphaena. The contents of the grave are dated to the Antonine age based on the sarcophagus, the inscription, and the hairstyle of the doll it contains.

Restrung group of tubular, melon-shaped, biconvex and other beads with a polyhedral dangle. 11.82 grams, 34.5 cm



Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Hollow-formed hoop with broad shoulders, shallow cell with inset jasper intaglio of a fish with cross potent above and 'IHC' retrograde below; possibly a marriage. 2.49 grams, 20.11 mm overall, 11.35 x 14.74 mm internal diameter.



From the E.M. collection, acquired in Washington DC, USA, in the 1960s. Shown to Sotheby’s, Bond Street, London, UK, in 1980, authenticated and described as Roman Christian, gifted to the present owner in 2004. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.