Terracotta Forger's Casting Mould

Squat in profile with flared neck and ribbed mouth, lateral strap handles with laurel leaf ornament. 337 grams, 18.6 cm



From the private collection of a Canadian gentleman living in Essex, UK, formed since the 1920s-circa 1990. Property of an Essex lady until the late 1990s; thence by descent. From the private collection of an Essex gentleman 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.

A wide range of types, dates and origins of amphorae excavated demonstrate the extensive and changing trading contacts between the centres of the Roman Empire. For example, the vessels from sites excavated by the Trust in different areas of Roman York, comprise one almost complete amphora, some 200 rims, handles and spikes and numerous body sherds, witnessing a wide rage of commercial movement between Roman Hispania, Germania and Britannia.

Modelled in the half-round with large eyes and defined eyebrows, short projecting horns on the forehead, ferrous spike on the reverse. 46 grams, 40 mm



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

A mixed group of two hundred and fifty single tesserae of various colours and sizes, mostly cuboid. 332 grams total, 7-14 mm



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Roman mosaics were made from small cubes of natural stone and terracotta possibly cut from tile or brick. Each of these small cubes was called a tessera (plural tesserae) from the Latin word for dice.