Roman Translucent Green Hexagonal Flask

Modelled standing in the round with naturalistic detailing, with curled horns and standing on an oval base. 11.2 grams, 22 mm high



‘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.

The seal box with remains of articulate hinge, raised phallus to top face with red enamelled detail; exaggerated stylised penis pendant with fragment of suspension loop remaining. 10.6 grams total, 29-41 mm



Found Billingsgate spoil from the Thames foreshore, London, UK.

Probably from a colossal statue of Silenus or a satyr, detailed and naturalistic rendering of a left ear, conical shape with accurate depiction of the internal hair. 767 grams, 18.5 cm



Acquired in Europe before 1995. Private collection, Europe.

In the mythology of ancient Greece and in the Graeco-Roman literary world, satyrs were a community of beings who lived mostly in woods, surrounded by nature, and often together with nymphs. In the most ancient period they were imagined by the Greeks like Sileni, in human form, but with the ears, tail and sometimes hooves of horses. Seilenoi were depicted as fat, elderly, white-haired men, with snub noses, balding heads, and the ears and tails of asses. They were sometimes covered in fluffy white hair and occasionally sported a pair of ox horns.