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LOT 0094
Roman Wooden Tablet from the Will of the Father of Iulia Ianuaria Made on the Goretiano Estate in the Province of Byzacena
EARLY 4TH CENTURY A.D.
9 1/4 x 6 7/8 in. (65 grams, 23.5 x 17.6 cm).
Well preserved rectangular tablet with a recessed panel to each face; the third and last tablet of a Roman will; both sides inscribed in Roman cursive script using ink and calamus, twenty-one lines of Roman cursive script written within the recess, some text is lost on the right half of both the inner and outer face; on the inner face partially damaged surface; on the other side sixteen lines of cursive script with a half-line at the right edge; two small holes both near the upper and lower rim (for binding the tablets of this document together); the text consists of testamentary dispositions and ends with the obligatory mancipatory formula of Roman testaments; mentioned is a Iulius Fortunatus. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired by Albert Sfez in the early 1950s.
Formerly the property of Monsieur Alain Sfez, a Belgium collector; acquired by gift from his father Albert Sfez, in 1965.
Acquired by a London dealer in 1973.
From an important London collection since 1975; thence by descent.
Accompanied by a copy of an illustrated academic report by Professor Dr phil. Peter Rothenhöfer.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12602-230810.
Exhibited at the Harwich Museum, Harwich, Essex, UK, 27th August-10th December 2025; accompanied by a copy of a photograph of the artefacts on display.
LiteratureCf. Rothenhöfer, P., and Blänsdorf, J., 'Sana mente sanaque memoria testamentum feci: Eine testamentarische Verfügung vom 12. April 340 n. Chr.", Gephyra 13 (2016), pp.153-163; Rothenhoefer, P., Bemerkungen zum Testament des Pomponius Maximus aus dem Jahr 371 n. Chr. (Notes on the Testament of Pomponius Maximus from the Year AD 371); Zeitschrift der Savigny Stiftung für Rechtsgeschichte (Romanistische Abteilung) 142, 2025, pp. 200-232); also see Thomas, J. D., Vindolanda: The Latin Writing Tablets, Britannia Monograph Series No 4, London, 1983, for examples of wooden tabulae re-used as writing surfaces; for examples of testamentary documents on wooden tablets that have survived, see FIRA III, p.47, for Anthony Silvanus from 142 AD, also see BGU VII 1695 for Safinnius Herminus; for another from Transfynydd, North Wales, see Arch. Camb. 150, pp.143-156; and see Bowman, A.K., Life and letters on the Roman frontier : Vindolanda and its people, London, 1994, for discussion of the uses of Roman writing tablets; Rothenhoefer, P., Neue römische Rechtsdokumente aus dem Byzacena-Archiv / New Roman Legal Documents from the Byzacena Archive, (forthcoming).
FootnotesProfessor Dr phil. Peter Rothenhöfer writes: 'Without any doubts this tablet is an original document from Roman times. Because only few Roman testaments have survived this document is of great importance both for Roman Legal and Social History'.
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LOT 0094
Roman Wooden Tablet from the Will of the Father of Iulia Ianuaria Made on the Goretiano Estate in the Province of Byzacena
Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,690
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Roman Gemstone with Female Portrait
1st century B.C.-1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Ellipsoid in plan with intaglio profile female bust. 0.41 grams, 9 mm
From the collection of a London, UK, gentleman, 1970s onwards. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
Based on similarities with coins and sculptures, the gemstone could date to the Late Hellenistic or Early Roman period. These similarities can be seen in the strongly marked lines of the dress, the pronounced shape of the mouth, and the squareness of the nose. -
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The bowl with a wide flat bottom and convex sides; the inside with incised concentric circles; flat handle with raised edges and hooked finial for suspension. 483 grams, 39.5 cm
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