Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Ancient World: Roman (29)

Discus fragment of a lamp decorated with the half-figure of a satyr holding a thyrsus and blowing a flute. The youthful figure wears a deer skin with the hooves of the animal knotted behind his shoulder.
Rare depiction. Detailed rendering of the head and the anatomical details. Covered with an orange-brown slip.
For a related example, cf. Q3250 in the British Museum database.
According to Bailey, the lamp was probably designed as a pair together with Q3292 (pp. 9-10 and p...

Free blown light green glass amphoriskos showing a tall cylindrical neck decorated with spiral trails.
Two rod handles applied to the edge of the shoulder.
The flared mouth with inward folded rim. The slightly concave base with a pontil scar.
Glass
Roman, Eastern Mediterranean, 3rd-4th century AD
H. 6 cm (2.4 in)
Intact with layers of silvery iridescence.
Swiss private collection Edgar A. Mills, prior to 1956...

Roman bronze eagle standing with outspread wings on the head of an antelope. The eagle is modeled in the round, tail and wing feathers are engraved. The head of the prey is worked as an attachment.
The eagle on the antelope head is associated to the worship of Jupiter Dolichenus, whose syncretic mystery cult was widespread among Roman soldiers since the time of Vespasian.
Publication record: Sonderliste V, December 1985 sale catalogue, lot no. 40...

Rare amuletic pendant in the form of a herm with youthful bust to the top. The slender square section pillar shaped body with lugs to the side. A suspension loop to the back.
Herms were used as boundary markers on roads and borders. They were also placed outside houses to ward off harm or evil. In its amuletic form the herm was associated with fertility and good luck.
Bronze
Roman, 1st-2nd century AD
H. 3.3 cm (1.3 in)
Intact, fine condition...

Pear-shaped flask decorated with concentric circles and cross-hatched diamonds on the body.
The tubular neck with folded rim was applied separately. Slightly pushed-in base with traces of a pontil mark.
Glass of dull amber in color with patches of iridescence.
Glass
Roman, Eastern Mediterranean, 3rd-4th century AD
H. 13 cm (5.1 in)
Intact...

Fine rim fragment showing the fight of Herakles against the snake-headed hydra.
The hero brandishes his club while three snake heads appear in front of his chest. The monster’s body winds around the hero’s legs.
Herakles is shown with a muscular body...

Amber colored glass jug with flared rim folded over on the sides and tooled into a trefoil shape.
The cylindrical neck widening towards the bulbous body with round bottom.
The rod handle applied as a pad to the edge of shoulder, drawn up and slightly outwards, then turned down and in, and trailed onto back of rim.
Translucent amber glass, handle slightly darker.
Glass, blown
Roman, 2nd-3rd century AD
H. 10 cm
Intact and fine...

Group of three Byzantine belt buckles with kidney-shaped, high-sided frames and lateral ridges at the resting point of the pronge.
The heavy pronges are fixed between lugs, their tops are provided with rectangular shields. Some pronges decorated with concentric circles.
The frames correspond to type R (fig. 1, pp. 4-5) in the classification of Schulze-Dörrlamm.
Literature: Mechthild Schulze-Dörrlamm. Byzantinische Gürtelschnallen und Gürtelbeschläge...

Large and well-designed Roman lamp with the planta pedis impressed on the base.
Bailey type G, Deneauve type VG lamp, characterized by bow-shaped lug handles on each side of the body. The concave discus with a central filling hole; the air hole pierced near the nozzle channel.
The outer side with relief decoration towards the nozzle...

Bust of a young male figure with pleasant expression. The face shows large lidded eyes, a prominent nose and sensuous lips. Venus rings on the neck.
The hair is textured with short sickle-shaped curls and topped by a stippled wreath with ribbons that run along the shoulders.
The boy is dressed in a skin tight robe. Belly button indicated.
The wreath suggests a Dionysian context. The figure possibly depicts the youthful Bacchus.
Hard fired ceramic with greyish core. Su...

Couple of Roman spindle shaped jugs each with wheel ridged body and pointed foot.
The narrow neck with thickened, folded rim. Thick handle from shoulder to rim.
Coarse ceramic with remains of red glaze in places.
Ceramic
Roman, 2nd-4th century AD
H. intact 14 cm (5.5 in)
H. repaired 14.5 cm (5.7 in)
One jug with attached shard to the rim, otherwise intact. The second reconstituted from fragments. Light earthen deposits. Decorative/appealing shape...

Small blown glass bowl with steep wall and folded-in rim. Standing on a raised base with small pontil mark. Translucent glass with yellow-gold weathering all over.
Old tag on the wall, presumably from an auction house.
Glass
Roman, 2nd-4th century AD
H. 4.8 cm (1.9 in)
D. 6.4 cm (2.5 in)
Intact and fine. Pitting and iridescent weathering. Slightly askew.
Old US private collection, thence US art market.

The authenticity of the object ...

Rare moldmade lamp decorated with two dolphins and a rosette on the rounded shoulder.
Central filling hole. The broad-tipped nozzle ends in small volutes close to the discus ring.
The base with two raised rings. Surface partially covered with a red-brown glaze.
Near to Loeschcke type II.
For an almost identical example, cf. lamp no. 512 (inv. no. 83.AQ.377.553), p. 370 in: Jean Bussière and Birgitta Lindros Wohl. Ancient Lamps in the J. Paul Getty Museum. Los Angele...

Mold-made factory lamp of Loeschcke type IXb. The sunken discus with a central filling hole, the elongated air-hole pierced along the nozzle channel. The base with a sunken central area.
The shape is known from North Italian makers like Strobilus, Atimeti and others.
Numerous variants of their products were also confectioned in Gaul and Germania, although it is not clear if by branch workshops of by plagiarisers.
For an example close in shape and size, cf. Q1165 PRB in: D. ...

Large North African red-ware fragment depicting a leaping panther with detailed head and fearsome paws.
Excellent modeling of the musculature and great coat pattern rendered with small circles. On the other end a hound chasing a sheep or goat.
The fragment belongs to the rim of a lanx, a larger and rather rare rectangular platter. The outer edge is decorated with a beaded pattern.
For a panther from a matching mould, cf. fig. 12, p. 418 in: Annewies van den Hoek. “Executi...

Choice red-ware rim fragment featuring a beautifully detailed lion. The feline approaches with a forward-turned front body. The head with delicate detail and a shaggy mane. Shaggy strands on the elbow joint. Excellent modeling of the musculature and great rendering of the panther-like fur pattern depicted with tiny circles. For almost the same lion on an Orpheus bowl, cf. 1981.658 in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. For a discussion of the bowl, cf. pp. 230-231, pl. 32 in: Annewies van den ...

Roman red-ware fragment of a lamp with a partially preserved horse on the discus.
The animal head with flared nostrils, open mouth and bare teeth. The big eye with eyelashes, the ears laid back. Mane and tail hatched.
Trappings around the neck and the croup decorated with tiny dots. On the croup a swastika with dots in the interstices, possibly a brand.
The checkerboard panels on the shoulder frame resemble Ennably A10, the targets with diamonds inside are close to Ennably ...

Fine bowl on a low ring base, the floor with two concentric grooves. The inside of the rim with steps along a central ridge. Eight groups of notches on the lip. Thin smoothed slip.
Shape form 71A – Hayes 1101-1102 – fig. 34, pl.55, pp. 227-228 in: John W. Hayes. Roman Pottery and Fine-Ware Imports. The Athenian Agora. Vol. 32. Princeton 2008.
Ceramic
Roman, North Africa, 375-400 AD
D. 15.3 cm (6 in)
H. 4.7 cm (1.9 in)
Intact. Pockmarked surface with ...