Romano-British Bronze Votive Axehead Pendant

Portrait head of a woman with an elaborate coiffure, with the hair at the back parted in the middle and the two strands folded over each other and then pulled to the front to form a looped horizontal layer, then parted in the middle of the forehead and drawn to the back of the head, thereby forming ripples; individual curls represented along the hairline up to the completely exposed ears; some modern infills to the forehead area above the left eye, both upper eyelids, both cheeks in the middle area, left nostril and the chin up to the lower lip; heavily cleaned. 16 kg, 34.5 cm



Acquired on the Parisian art market. with Bernard Tinivella, Saint-Ouen. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12464-228803. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

The coiffure is known as 'Scheitelzopf hairstyle' or 'reverse plait'. The closest parallel for this hairstyle is a portrait bust in the Palazzo dei Conservatori (inv. no. 2767), which corresponds in every detail, including the various decorative curls. The same type of hairstyle, albeit with variations in the details (decorative curls and position of the hair loop), is found on a few other portraits of women that were dated to the Period of Gallienus by Marianne Bergmann. Some of the portraits in this typologically related group are likely to be private portraits. Nonetheless, the question must be raised as to whether the portrait shows a member of the imperial family. Hereby physiognomic features and especially imperial coin portraits need to be taken into account. In this context, it is important to note that both eyeballs were reworked, whereby the iris was completely erased. Furthermore, there are pick marks on the eyebrows, eyelids, nose, cheeks, mouth and chin (partly filled in modern times). If these were intentional changes made in the context of the practice of Damnatio memoriae, they would indicate that a lady from the imperial family was represented. The neck has been prepared for insertion into a sculpture.

Comprising: amuletic pendant formed as a hand in the fica gesture; cosmetic ear-scoop. 9.87 grams total, 30-37 mm



Acquired on the European art market. Ex California, USA, private collection, 1980-2000. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

An oval-shaped amuletic peridot gemstone intaglio with bevelled edge, engraved with facing figure of goddess Selene advancing left, wearing a peplos with billowing veil or shawl above, crescent at neck and to head, holding a torch; Greek inscription 'MY' and inversed 'MI' below; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 3.07 grams, 21 mm



Acquired 1979-1999. London collection of the late Mr S.M., thence by descent. Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, London, UK. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.