Loading, please wait...
LOT 0837
Roman to Medieval Bronze Ring Collection
1ST-16TH CENTURY A.D.
1/2 - 1 in. (86 grams total, 14-24 mm).
Composed of a variety of ring types and sizes from various time periods, including examples with decorative bezels. [30]
ProvenanceAcquired on the German art market around 2000s.
From the collection of an EU gentleman living in the UK.
TimeLine 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:
TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.
-
Roman Bronze Crouching Bear Mascot Figure
1st-4th century A.D.Estimate: £600 - 800 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £333
Formed in the round on a curved base, semi-naturalistic anatomical and facial detailing; circular socket to base of neck and base for insertion of a banner rod. 65 grams, 47 mm
‘The Ancient Menagerie Collection’ formerly the property of a Cambridgeshire lady, collected since the 1990s and acquired from auctions and dealers throughout Europe and the USA, now ex London collection. -
Large Gallo-Roman Bronze Statuette of Cupid
1st-3rd century A.D.Estimate: £5,000 - 7,000 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £2,500
Modelled in the round leaping and winged, his right hand reaching above his head seemingly gesturing to retrieve arrows from a quiver once carried on his back, dressed in an exomis tunic leaving him naked below the torso, wearing a helmet or cap and ankle boots. 403 grams, 16 cm high
Acquired in Europe before 1994. Private collection, Europe. 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 no.11808-206795.
Often the statues of Puttos or amorini (small loves) depicting personifications of Eros were covered with gold leaf. This was a frequent practice and the figures, when represented with wings, were known as chrysopteroi, meaning 'with golden wings'. -
Roman Pewter Cignus Spoon with Coiled Swan-Neck Handle
4th century A.D.Estimate: £400 - 600 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £125
With large oval bowl and a long, slender handle, compressed into S-shape and terminating in a stylised bird’s head. 42.4 grams, 85 mm
Found near Welney, Cambridgeshire, in 1985.
Similar silver spoons (cygni), were found within a set of ten spoons (today at the British Museum with inventory nos. 1994,0408.81-90) with ownership inscriptions. The handle attachment of such spoons had some decorative profiling, and the name 'AVRVRSICINI' within the bowl was inlaid with niello. The spoons seems to have been produced by a Romano-British workshop of Late Antiquity (4th-5th centuries A.D.). The cygnus was a particular type of ligula. This type was characterised by a large, oval-shaped bowl, but was equipped, unlike the common ligula, with a shortened, recurved handle which terminated in a stylised water bird or swan's head (swan = cygnus in Latin).
