Romano-British Gemstone with Helios Driving Quadriga

With single-edged blade gently curving towards the tip; applied bone handle with diagonally striated banding. 38.1 grams, 17.5 cm



Found near Wetwang, East Yorkshire, UK. Acquired from the finder in 2007. Property of a Nottinghamshire gentleman.

Tools which cannot be assigned to one of the more specific categories, such as agricultural or military equipment especially knife blades, tool handles, and hones. Three methods of attaching a handle to the tang of a knife or tool are distinguishable in the Roman culter. Rivetting was used on two-piece handles (like in our specimen). Driving the tang into the marrow-cavity of the bone, which was usually packed with wood-shavings, so that the irregularities of cancellous tissue and the wood-shavings prevented the tang from twisting or slipping out (often a collar was also used with this method). Lastly, the tang could be fixed to the handle by means of an iron clip.

With convex sidewall and copper-alloy facing to the foot; chipped. 263 grams, 98 mm



Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private collection since 1998.

With low-relief eye and tail detailing, cells filled with enamel and roundels in contrasting colour; remains of pun-lug and catch to the reverse. 5.31 grams, 30.69 mm



Found Southern England. Acquired on the UK art market in the 1980s. From an East Anglian private collection.