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LOT 0684
Roman Triclinium Finial Set
1ST-4TH CENTURY A.D.
3 3/4 - 4 in. (1.18 kg total, 9.6-10.1 cm).
A set of four copper-alloy triclinium (bed) finials, each with a bell-shaped body and baluster style finial; hollow to base. [4]
ProvenanceAcquired before 2000.
From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.
See Cavalieri, M., 'Ipotesi sulla produzione bronzea dell’Emilia occidentale in età romana' in Santoro, S., Artigianato e produzione nella Cisalpina. Parte I. Proposte di metodo e prime applicazioni, Firenze, 2004, pp.173-198, fig.5.
FootnotesThe Romans, like the Greeks, ate whilst reclined on beds. The eating bed (lectus triclinaris) was a luxury furniture item crafted by carpenters. From the 2nd century B.C., Romans started to create 'lecti aerati, inargentati, inaurati, eborati, testudinei,' i.e. beds made of wood and covered with bronze, silver, gold and ivory fittings (as in our specimens) or with scales of other precious material. Such elements were sometimes sculpted in the shape of an animal protome, or were simply bell-shaped, like our specimens.
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LOT 0684
Roman Triclinium Finial Set
Estimate £400 - 600€460 - 700 (for guidance only)$540 - 810 (for guidance only)
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Roman Silver Dish with Marine Encrustations
1st-3rd century A.D.Estimate: £2,000 - 3,000 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £500
A sheet silver dish, shallow with thickened rim; marine encrustations to the outer face. 396 grams, 21 cm wide
Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private Swiss collection since 1998. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11631-199032. -
Roman Lead Tag with Seal Impressions
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £7
A lead seal tag bearing two oval-shaped impressions containing figural motifs: the smaller impression possibly a standing winged figure facing right; the larger impression portraying a standing figure holding an object. 15.19 grams, 36 mm
Acquired in the 1970s. Important European collection. -
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Roman Tragic Mask Applique
1st century A.D. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £130
A rectangular slate mount showing the head of a tragic mask with angular eyes, straight nose and a clownish, down-turned mouth. 3 grams, 16.2 mm
Very fine condition.
Acquired from Galerie Jean Phillipe Mariaud de Serres, 1990-2000. Property of a French collector.
Small appliqués like this one were common in Roman furniture. In the Graeco-Roman world, comic and tragic masks played an important role in Greek drama, commonly performed in the Roman Empire. The actors had the ability to easily play more than one character in succession with a simple change of masks, and the characters of the masks became popular objects in the material culture.
