Roman to Post Medieval Bell Collection

Transparent pale green with bulbous body, rounded lip, flared neck and concave base. 48 grams, 11 cm



Ex London, UK, collection, 1980-1990s.

The small bottle can be associated with the Isings form 104b. There are some parallels from graves at Beit Ras, Jordan and Samaria-Sebaste. Some models of the type have faint ribs.

Cuboid with incised ring-and-dot markings disposed 1:6, 2:4, 3:5; old collector's label '12' to one face and record card; abraded through usage. 3.24 grams, 13 mm



Found Lancashire, UK. From the important private collection of dice and gaming pieces of Colin Narbeth, London, UK, collection no.12. Accompanied by a Colin Narbeth catalogue identification card.

Modelled in the round as a figure of a nude male with legs spread as if bestriding a horse; the bald head tilted an turned towards the right shoulder, with pointed ears, fleshy features and a full beard; a textile covering draped around the right thigh and lower body gathered in the left hand; the legs spread and feet dangling, with later holes for attachment pegs; the right arm extended perpendicular to the body and the hand bent round; the base of the spine with vestigial tail and the cloth draped as if on a horse's rump; mounted on a custom-made stand. 200 grams, 98 mm (362 grams total, 14 cm high including stand)



London art market, 1992.

The figure represents either Silenus himself, the aged and semi-bestial companion of Dionysus, or a Seilenos - a member of the feral group of which he was the leader. The attitude of the figure, with the right arm extended and the head tilted, suggests that there should have been an accompanying female figure to whom Silenus was paying full attention. As a devotee of Dionysus, Silenus is often shown with Bacchantes, female celebrants in the cult of wine-drinking, music and other pleasurable pursuits.