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LOT 0685
Romano-British Enamelled Bronze 'VITA VENI' Knee Brooch
1ST CENTURY A.D.
1 1/2 in. (20.6 grams, 39 mm).
With cylindrical transverse headplate, scoped profile to the bow, catch to the reverse; shallow enamelled cells with reserved 'VITA VENI' legend translating to: '(My) life, come (to me)', since the Romans used the word uita ('life') as a term of endearment – Cicero, for example, when writing to his wife, calls her mea uita ('my life'), equivalent to 'darling'.
ProvenanceFound Suffolk, UK.
From an East Anglian private collection.
Cf. Bayley, J. & Butcher, S., Roman Brooches in Britain: A Technological and Typological Study based on the Richborough Collection, London, 2004, item 244, for type.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0685
Romano-British Enamelled Bronze 'VITA VENI' Knee Brooch
Sold for (Inc. bp): £195
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Roman Blue Glass Flask with Fine Trailing
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,170
Iridescent blue glass flask with bulbous body and flared mouth, fine applied spiral trail to the neck and body. 18.5 grams, 10 cm
Ex property of a late Japanese collector, 1970-2000s. -
Roman Enamelled Bronze Bow Brooch
Circa 2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
Dolphin-type T-shaped bow brooch with barrel-shaped crossbar, ornamented with punched segmentation to the obverse, imitation spring-coil to the reverse; shallow bow with lateral bands of pointillé detailing flanking a column of square cells to accept enamel fill; trumpet-shaped lobe finial; catch to reverse with openwork ornament; hinged pin to reverse. 21.8 grams, 49 mm
Found Wiltshire, UK, before 1974.
The brooch features a hinged pin but the ribbed ornament on the crossbar replicates the coiled spring of contemporary Colchester-type bow brooches. -
Roman Gold Ring with Portrait Gemstone
2nd-3rd century A.D. and laterEstimate: £2,500 - 3,500 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £1,250
With ellipsoid plaque, stepped cell with inset later carnelian gemstone, intaglio female profile bust; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 6.51 grams, 24.31 mm overall, 20.37 mm internal diameter (approximate size British M, USA 6, Europe 12.46, Japan 12)
From the collection of a London, UK, gentleman, 1980-1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12106-217761.