Roman Vine Leaf-Shaped Gold Pendant

Pale green iridescent glass, two tapering tubes with rolled, everted rims, applied lateral triangular handles. 78 grams, 11 cm



Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Modelled in the round as a facing female, semi-naturalistic facial detailing and dressed hair; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 31.4 grams total, 55 mm including stand



with Arte Classica, Lugano, prior 2000. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate no.S00043014. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Some Roman metal hair pins had human figures as finials (Cool, sub-group A, p.168). Bone pin finials carved as female busts were relatively common in Britannia (see for example finds from Londinium or Rutupiae). Metal pins with human figures were rare, though where they occur they tended to be made in the late Roman period, such a similar example recovered in the Vermand area. The treatment of figures varied greatly, including 'Celtic' looking faces and 'Venus' types. This great diversity of treatment clearly suggests that these pins were the occasional products of a wide variety of workshops.

Biconvex in profile with narrow base, stepped shoulder, pinched rim with pouring spout, strap handle; applied blue-grey pigment in bands. 108 grams, 93 mm



Believed to be from North Africa. Acquired from Alan Cherry, Bournemouth, circa 2004. Ian Wilkinson collection, Nottinghamshire, UK, formed since 1985. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.