Unique Relics Of The Grandeur That Was Rome
PAINTING MARBLE GLASS JEWELRY IVORY LEGIONARY METAL FIGURES CLAY FIGURES VESSELS BRONZE LAMPS TOOLS OTHER
ROMAN SCULPTURE
ROMAN GLASS
ROMAN JEWELRY
8728. A FINE ROMAN FIBULA, c. 2nd-3rd century. The spring loaded fibula with finely incised triangular point above the wide spring retainer. 1.4 inches. Fine glossy black patina. Rare.
8729. A ROMAN FIBULA, c. 2nd-3rd century. Spring loaded bronze fibula with circular terminal and 'tail' above catch plate. 1.5". Nice example.
8730. A ROMAN ANCHOR STYLE FIBULA, c. 2nd-4th century. The spring loaded bronze fibula with anchor shaped terminal next to the spring. 1.9". Pin restored.
8732. A FINE ROMAN FIBULA, c. 2nd-4th century. The bronze fibula with arched flat body and original pin, the whole covered with a fine gem-like forest green patina. 2.7".
8733. A FINE ROMAN FIBULA, c. 1st-3rd century. The small bronze fibula with large catch plate, the whole with a superb turquoise patina. 2". Pin restored.
8736. A FINE LATE ROMAN FIBULA, c. 3rd-4th century. The large arched bronze fibula with very fine incised ornamentation on the body. 3.8". Superb patina. Original pin.
8737. A LATE ROMAN FIBULA, c. 3rd-4th century. The spring type bronze fibula with catch plate tail looped back and wrapped around. 2.8". Fine example.
ROMAN IVORY & BONE CARVING
9084. EROTIC ROMAN BONE VENUS. Egypt, prob. Alexandria c. 2nd-4th century AD. The beautiful maiden standing nude except for a pleated garment fastened at her hip by a large brooch which she holds from slipping down over her body or perhaps she is in the process of removing it. 3.2 inches. A wonderful figure charged with eroticism and in excellent condition. Backside view.
ROMAN LEGIONARY ITEMS
ROMAN PAINTING
ROMAN FIGURES IN SILVER & BRONZE
8296. A FINE ROMAN BRONZE BUST OF VENUS., c. 1st-2nd century. Nicely modeled bronze bust in fine classical style probably of the goddess Venus 2". Remains of iron attachment tenon on rv.
FAUSTULUS THE FOUNDING OF ROME 7643. SUPERB CLASSICAL ROMAN BRONZE FIGURE OF FAUSTULUS, c. 1st-2nd century AD. 3.75 inches. An exceptionally fine and rare representation of Faustulus in bronze, the shepherd who discovered Romulus and Remus with the she-wolf. See for example the depiction of Faustulus on the Mars Altar from Ostia Mars Altar Faustulus, the upper r. figure, for a nearly identical depiction as a bearded shepherd wearing a belted tunic and shepherd's hat and carrying a shepherd's staff. A museum quality piece, significantly better than the image shows, depicting a pivotal figure from Roman mythology.
12656. ROMAN LEAD RELIEF PLAQUE OF JUPITER. PA30. Roman lead relief plaque, Jupiter facing, 13.8 x 12.3 cm. Provenance: The University Collection. Verso.
8719. CHARMING ROMAN BRONZE FINIAL, c. 1st-3rd century AD. In the form of a finely detailed eagle perched on the head of a deer. 1.3". Excellent style and condition. Rare mythological depiction.
ROMAN POTTERY FIGURES
RARE ART OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC 9694. ROMAN REPUBLIC TERRA COTTA WARRIOR, c. 4th - 2nd century BC. The large terra cotta figure. 11 inches. Professional repair. Extremely rare.
RARE ART OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC 9695. ROMAN REPUBLIC TERRA COTTA WARRIOR, c. 4th - 2nd century BC. The large terra cotta figure. 12.75 inches. Professional repair. Extremely rare.
RARE ART OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC 9696. ROMAN REPUBLIC TERRA COTTA WARRIOR, c. 4th - 2nd century BC. The large terra cotta figure. 9 inches. Professional repair. Extremely rare.
ROMAN BRONZE & POTTERY VESSELS
ROMAN BRONZE OIL LAMPS
RARE ELEPHANT HEAD LAMP 12819. ROMAN BRONZE OIL LAMP. M 11 Brown No No Y 5 x 11 cm. 100AD. Roman, in the form of an elephant head with protruding ears and the spout as the trunk. Lid missing. Provenance: The University Collection. Verso.
12777. ROMAN BRONZE OIL LAMP. M 45 Black No No Y 6.0 x 10.5 cm. Complete and intact. Byzantine or early Medieval European, 1200AD. Provenance: The University Collection. Verso.
ROMAN BRONZE AND IRON TOOLS
FROM A GROUP CARBON DATED TO 120 AD 8311. VERY RARE ROMAN IRON PRICK SPUR, c. 1st-3rd century. The spur with cruel spike and two knobs for attachment. 2.5 x 3.3". An important Roman technological artifact as their has been much discussion of where and when stirrups and spurs were invented.
A very similar bronze prick spur is on view at the Met. Spurs have been found in Celtic and Greek contexts from the 5th century B.C. onwards. In high antiquity, they were not used in pairs, but rather as a single accessory attached to only one of the feet, usually on the left. The first pairs are recorded in some Greek regions in the late 2nd century B.C. They were used, as they are today, for directing a horse to move forwards. The prick spur was the first type of spur to be invented, and it consists of a goad or prick, more or less pointed, connected to side arms or a heel plate. The earliest spurs were probably simple thorns attached at the back of the heel or ankle, before they began to be made out of metal.
Cf. Another lot from this collection was dated by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to 120 AD with a probable range of 80 AD - 160 AD. This was done using an innovative technique which measures the carbon isotope ratio of the trace carbon in the iron. This carbon comes from the wood used in the production of the iron which must be of essentially the same age as the tool itself. Results published in the journal, Radiocarbon, Summer 2001.
Provenance: A private American collection. Acquired from a US dealer in April, 1999.
OTHER ROMAN ANTIQUITIES & ARTIFACTS