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Lot 112
Medals, Great Britain, Edward VII (1901-1910), Gold Coronation Medal,1902, Royal Mint issue, 55mm, by G.W. de Saulles, crowned and draped bust of Edward r., crowned, draped and veiled bust of Queen Consort Alexandra r., (BHM 3737, Eimer 1871), UNC with only light hairlines and a tiny rim nick to the obverse, complete in case of issue Provenance - The property of a gentleman collector
Lot 113
Medals, Great Britain, Edward VII (1901-1910), Gold Coronation Medal, 1902, Royal Mint issue, 31mm, by G.W. de Saulles, crowned and draped bust of Edward r., crowned, draped and veiled bust of Queen Consort Alexandra r., (Eimer 1871), light hairlines, edge nibbles and an area that looks like a die-crack to the obverse at around 5 o'clock otherwise EF+ Provenance - The property of a gentleman collector
Lot 114
Medals, Great Britain, Edward VII (1901-1910), Gold Coronation Medal,1902, Royal Mint issue, 31mm, by G.W. de Saulles, crowned and draped bust of Edward r., crowned, draped and veiled bust of Queen Consort Alexandra r., (BHM 3737, Eimer 1871), light surface scratches, edge knocks and spotting, complete in case of issue Provenance - The property of a gentleman collector
Lot 115
Medals, Great Britain, Edward VII (1901-1910), Silver Coronation Medal,1902, Royal Mint issue, 55mm, by G.W. de Saulles, crowned and draped bust of Edward r., crowned, draped and veiled bust of Queen Consort Alexandra r., (BHM 3737, Eimer 1871), AUNC with light surface scratches and toning and complete in case of issue Provenance - The property of a gentleman collector
Lot 116
Medals, Great Britain, Edward VII (1901-1910), Silver Coronation Medal,1902, Royal Mint issue, 55mm, by G.W. de Saulles, crowned and draped bust of Edward r., crowned, draped and veiled bust of Queen Consort Alexandra r., (BHM 3737, Eimer 1871), AUNC with light surface scratches and toning and complete in case of issue
Lot 117
Medals, Great Britain, Edward VII (1901-1910), Silver Coronation Medal,1902, Royal Mint issue, 55mm, by G.W. de Saulles, crowned and draped bust of Edward r., crowned, draped and veiled bust of Queen Consort Alexandra r., (BHM 3737, Eimer 1871), EF with light surface scratches and toning and complete in case of issue Property of a gentleman collector.
Lot 121
Medals, Great Britain, Edward VII (1901-1910), Bronze Coronation Medal,1902, Royal Mint issue, 55mm, by G.W. de Saulles, crowned and draped bust of Edward r., crowned, draped and veiled bust of Queen Consort Alexandra r., (BHM 3737, Eimer 1871), together with another identical medal, both AUNC in original cases of issue, together with a silver and bronze George V coronation medal, 1911, both AUNC in cases of issue Provenance - The property of a gentleman collector
Lot 13
Second World War British Civil defence helmet, painted white with Black letter 'R' to the front, liner dated 1940, maker 'BMB', together with another black painted Civil Defence helmet, liner dated 1939, a fibre Civil Defence helmet shell black painted with white lettering to the front possibly 'W*R', no liner, a U.S. Model 1917 pattern Civil Defence helmet with liner and chin strap, a First World War U.S. Model 1917 pattern combat helmet shell, attached note states 'Warner Bros. film prop 1925', and a 1940's/50's Dutch Civil Defence helmet, (6)
Lot 213
Ca. 100-300 AD. Roman. A rare early Roman bronze circular double mirror. This two-part mirror consists of two circular discs with raised lips, which nest together when the mirror is closed to protect the reflecting surface. Both halves are well preserved and the exterior surfaces are decorated with incised concentric rings, while the interiors were polished to function as mirrors. Mirrors in the Graeco-Roman world were made of various materials - mostly copper alloy, but silver and iron examples have also been found. Mirrors were personal items, often owned by women. The earliest surviving pieces date to the Mycenaean period ca. 1200-1100 BC, with bone and ivory handles carved with animal motifs. Greek hand mirrors were made in one piece from the 7th cent. BC and became more elaborate with time. Roman mirrors from the Augustan period onwards have been found in most provinces of the empire and, like this item, they displayed applied engravings, decorative plaques on the reverse, or figurative ornament. For a comprehensive study of Roman mirrors, see Zahlhaas, G. (1975). Römische Relief Spiegel. Lassleben. Size: L: set of 2: 7mm / W:115mm ; 280g. Provenance: Property of a London gentleman, part of his family collection formed in the 1980s.
Lot 239
Ca. 100-300 AD. Roman. A beautiful glass flask with a spherical body with an attractive rainbow iridescence, a flaring cylindrical neck decorated with ribbed incisions, and a wide mouth with a slightly everted rim. Good condition. While glass-making had been practised for centuries, the Romans invented the glassblowing technique in the 1st century BC, which revolutionized this craft. Roman glassmakers reached incredible artistic heights with both free-blown vessels and mould blown forms and decorations. Flasks such as this one where used in Roman times to serve liquids and archaeological excavations show that they had an Empire-wide distribution (see Bayley, J., Freestone, I., & Jackson, C. (2015). Glass of the Roman World. Oxford And Philadelphia: Oxbow Books). To find out more about glass objects in the Roman world, Bayley, J., Freestone, I., & Jackson, C. (2015). Glass of the Roman World. Oxford And Philadelphia: Oxbow Books. Size: L:115mm / W:70mm ; 32g. Provenance: From the famous collection of Mr. R. Unger, previously with the Parthenon gallery, London; formerly in 1970s UK collection.
Lot 25
Ca. 1250-1350 AD. Medieval Western Europe. A stunning, forged-iron long sword of the Oakeshott Type XIIa.4 with a long hilt and a flat disc pommel where the broad chamfers have been cut into octagonal facets. The cross is lenticular. The arms are slim and slightly curved towards the blade. The High Middle Ages saw swordsmiths develop new types of blades to combat the ever-increasing usage of plate armour. Against these defences, early-styled swords with light, flat cutting blades lost much of their effectiveness. Warriors and craftsmen of the day saw the need for more acutely pointed blades with cross-sections reinforced for thrusting. Mounted on a custom-made stand. Mounted on a custom-made stand. Excellent condition. For more information on Medieval swords, see Oakeshott, R. Ewart (1998). Records of the medieval sword. Boydell Press. Size: L:1030mm / W:210mm ; 1.2kg. Provenance: Property of a European collector. Formerly in the collection of Earl Mitchell, London 1990s.
Lot 262
Ca. 860-650 BC. Urartian. A beautiful pair of gold bracelets made of gold wires tightly twisted around a copper core. The terminals are in the shape of snake heads decorated with elaborate coiled and circular motifs. Excellent condition. The item has undergone X-ray fluorescence analysis to confirm the metallurgical content suggesting its ancient origin and lack of modern trace elements. It also comes with a gemological and historical report by an independent specialist Anna Rogers. This analysis will accompany the purchase. Urartu was an ancient kingdom of southwest Asia centred in the mountainous region southeast of the Black Sea and southwest of the Caspian Sea. Mentioned in Assyrian sources from the early 13th century BC, Urartu enjoyed considerable political power in the Middle East in the 9th and 8th centuries BC. From early in the kingdom's history, very characteristic artefacts were manufactured, including bronze belts along with shields, quivers, helmets, bells, jewellery, and ceramic and metal vessels of many forms. Many of these artefacts bear royal inscriptions and are decorated with characteristic motifs and scenes, which consist of various deities and composite otherworldly creatures, royal rituals, hunts, battles, and genre scenes. Urartu continued to produce beautiful works of art until it was destroyed in the second half of the seventh century BC by the Medes or the Scythians. To find out more about Urartu and its art production, see Merhav, R. (1991). Urartu: A Metalworking Center in the First Millennium B.C.E. Jerusalem: Israel Museum.Size: L: set of 2: 58mm, 59mm / W:72mm,75mm ; 76.5g. Provenance: Property of a London gentleman, part of his family collection formed in the 1980s-2000.
Lot 265
Ca. 100-300 AD. Roman. A beautiful gold ring with a circular band, flared shoulders, and an oval bezel set with large oval red carnelian intaglio depicting a winged infant on the left-hand side and a seated, bearded male figure with raised left arm holding thunderbolt on the right-hand side. Excellent condition; wearable. The item has undergone X-ray fluorescence analysis to confirm the metallurgical content suggesting its ancient origin and lack of modern trace elements. It also comes with a gemological and historical report by an independent specialist Anna Rogers. This analysis will accompany the purchase. Thunderbolts are typically an attribute of the king of the gods, i.e. Zeus for the ancient Greeks and Jupiter for the Romans. The winged infant may be Eros (also known as Cupid). In Archaic Greek art, Eros was represented as a beautiful winged youth but tended to be made younger and younger until, by the Hellenistic period and Roman times, he was often depicted as an infant as we see in this instance. Roman rings were often embellished with intaglios, cameos and precious gemstones, and mythology and Roman history were used as a repertoire of decorative themes. For more information, see Higgins, R. (1980). Greek and Roman Jewellery. London: Methuen. Size: D: 20.02mm / US: 10 1/4 / UK: U; 6.2g. Provenance: From the collection of a London gentleman; formerly acquired in early 2000s in Belgium; previously in 1970s European collection.
Lot 27
Ca. 1250-1370 AD. Medieval Western Europe. A beautiful forged Oakeshott type XIIIa longsword with a long grip and a disc-shaped pommel with a recessed inner disc. The cross is lenticular and the narrow arms are curved towards the blade. The High Middle Ages saw swordsmiths develop new types of blades to combat the ever-increasing usage of plate armour. Against these defences, early-styled swords with light, flat cutting blades lost much of their effectiveness. Warriors and craftsmen of the day saw the need for more acutely pointed blades with cross-sections reinforced for thrusting. Mounted on a custom-made stand. Excellent condition. For more information on Medieval swords, see Oakeshott, R. Ewart (1998). Records of the medieval sword. Boydell Press. Size: L:1055mm / W:175mm ; 955g. Provenance: Property of a European collector. Formerly in the collection of Earl Mitchell, London 1990s.
Lot 281
Ca. 100-300 AD. Roman. A beautiful necklace made of two strings of carnelian and blue glass rectangular and flat beads with gold flat beads and three incised rectangular gold inserts, one of which functions as a pendant. Restrung and fully wearable. Necklaces and bracelets were part of the feminine costume in the Roman world and some examples can be seen faithfully illustrated, for instance, in the female painted mummy portraits from Roman Egypt; ancient sculptures too sometimes show bejewelled women of the Roman period - see, for instance, the splendid series of carved reliefs from the city of Palmyra, in modern Syria. To find out more about Roman jewellery, see, for example, Higgins, R. (1980). Greek and Roman jewellery. London: Methuen. Size: L:280mm / W:mm ; 22g. Provenance: From the collection of a gentleman based in London; formerly with a British gallery; acquired in the 1990s.
Lot 286
Ca. 100-300 AD. Roman. A beautiful gold ring with a circular band with broad shoulders decorated with stylized openwork scrolling foliate design. The applied oval bezel is set with a large oval red carnelian gem featuring a beautiful intaglio depicting Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory, standing on an eagle and holding a laurel wreath in her left hand. Good condition; wearable. The item has undergone X-ray fluorescence analysis to confirm the metallurgical content suggesting its ancient origin and lack of modern trace elements. It also comes with a gemological and historical report by an independent specialist Anna Rogers. This analysis will accompany the purchase. Roman rings were often embellished with intaglios, cameos and precious gemstones. Mythology and Roman history were used as a repertoire of decorative themes. For more information, see Higgins, R. (1980). Greek and Roman jewellery. London: Methuen. Size: D: 19.31mm / US: 9 3/8 / UK: S1/2; 13.3g. Provenance: Private London collector (H.G); formerly in British 1980s collection.
Lot 287
Ca. 200 BC-100 AD. Late Hellenistic/ Early Roman. A beautiful gold ring with a thin circular band and applied oval bezel set with an oval black gemstone with a beautiful intaglio depicting a left-facing male youth. The man is portrayed as clean-shaven, he has neatly arranged curly hair and a strong neck. These features are reminiscent of the Hellenistic ruler portraits that we find on Hellenistic coins. For more information on Hellenistic ruler portraiture and similar portrait iconography, see Kroll, J.H. (2007) 'The emergence of the ruler portraiture on early Hellenistic coins: the importance of being divine'. In P. Schultz and R. von den Hoff (eds), Early Hellenistic Portraiture: Image, Style, Context. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 117; 121. The item has undergone X-ray fluorescence analysis to confirm the metallurgical content suggesting its ancient origin and lack of modern trace elements. It also comes with a gemological and historical report by an independent specialist Anna Rogers. This analysis will accompany the purchase. Size: D: 17.97mm / US: 7 3/4 / UK: P1/2; 3g. Provenance: From the collection of a London gentleman; formerly acquired in early 2000s in Belgium; previously in 1970s European collection.
Lot 3
Ca. 1410-1510 AD. Medieval Western Europe. A stunning, forged-iron long sword of the Oakeshott Type XVIIIa with a slender hand guard, a discoid pommel, and rounded guards. The narrow triangular blade is complete with a deep fuller that traverses almost halfway down from the tang base as well as sharpened edges that taper downwards to form the acutely pointed tip; the blade displays an inlaid cross pattern decoration. Excellent condition; custom-made stand included. The Oakeshott Type XVIIIa was a very popular sword because, by the 15th century, the battlefield required a much more versatile weapon. Thrusting swords were still needed to deal with plate armour, which by this period was essentially invulnerable to cuts. But the armour of the average infantryman was becoming more mobile and less armoured as the use of longbows, crossbows and other missile weapons began to dominate the battlefield.For more information on Medieval swords, see Oakeshott, R. Ewart (1998). Records of the medieval sword. Boydell Press.Size: L:985mm / W:145mm ; 1kg. Provenance: Property of a European collector. Formerly in the collection of Earl Mitchell, London 1990s
Lot 304
Ca. 100-300 AD. Roman. A beautiful restrung and fully wearable necklace made of a single string of white and blue glass circular beads with gold flat beads and a zoomorphic gold pendant (a snake head). Necklaces and bracelets were part of the feminine costume in the Roman world and some examples can be seen faithfully illustrated, for instance, in the female painted mummy portraits from Roman Egypt; ancient sculptures too sometimes show bejewelled women of the Roman period - see, for instance, the splendid series of carved reliefs from the city of Palmyra, in modern Syria. To find out more about Roman jewellery production, see Higgins, R. (1980). Greek and Roman jewellery. London: Methuen. Size: L:32mm / W:180mm ; 37.2g. Provenance: Property of a London gentleman, part of his family collection formed in the 1980s-2000.
Lot 305
Ca. 100-300 AD. Roman. A restrung and fully wearable necklace made of a single string of white and blue glass beads and carnelian beads. Necklaces and bracelets were part of the feminine costume in the Roman world and some examples can be seen faithfully illustrated, for instance, in the female painted mummy portraits from Roman Egypt; ancient sculptures too sometimes show bejewelled women of the Roman period - see, for instance, the splendid series of carved reliefs from the city of Palmyra, in modern Syria. To find out more about Roman jewellery production, see Higgins, R. (1980). Greek and Roman jewellery. London: Methuen. Size: L:280mm / W:105mm ; 14g. Provenance: Obtained on the London art market in the early 2000s; formerly from the collection of an English Family, by descents from the 1970s.
Lot 310
Ca. 100-300. Roman. A penannular bronze bracelet with a round-section band featuring ribbed decoration and lozengiform terminals shaped as crested snakes heads. In Greek and Roman culture, there were certainly healing associations with snakes as snakes were an attribute of the healing god Asclepius, who is often depicted with a serpent-entwined rod. To find out more about Roman bracelets and jewellery production, see Higgins, R. (1980). Greek and Roman jewellery. London: Methuen. Size: L:66mm / W:78mm ; 41g. Provenance: Property of a London gentleman, part of his family collection formed in the 1980s-2000.
Lot 368
Ca. 1200-700 BC. Western Asiatic/Aegean. A long bronze spear with an elongated leaf-shaped blade with barbs, raised midrib, sharpened edges that taper gradually to a pointed tip, long socket, and a curved tang for insertion into a haft ending in a small pommel. Good condition, beautiful patina; custom-made stand included. Bronze weaponry production flourished in western Asia, the Aegean, and mainland Greece from the 2nd millennium BC to about 700 BC, when it was gradually replaced by iron. Swords, spears, and arrows were important symbols of war in Greek Bronze Age societies and served as powerful reminders that authority rested in the hands of those who could earn it. For more information, see Moorey P. R. S. (1971). Catalogue of the Ancient Persian Bronzes in the Ashmolean Museum. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 88-89 & Muscarella, O. W. (1988). Bronze and Iron: Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 103-104. Size: L:300mm / W:45mm ; 220g. Provenance: Property of a North London gentleman; previously acquire on the UK/European art market in the 1980s.
Lot 372
Ca. 1200-700 BC. Western Asiatic/Aegean. A bronze leaf-shaped spearhead with a raised midrib and a short tang. Good condition, beautiful patina; custom-made stand included. Bronze weaponry production flourished in Western Asia, the Aegean, and mainland Greece from the 2nd millennium BC to about 700 BC, when it was gradually replaced by iron. Swords, spears, and arrows were important symbols of war in Greek Bronze Age societies and served as powerful reminders that authority rested in the hands of those who could earn it. For more information, see Moorey P. R. S. (1971). Catalogue of the Ancient Persian Bronzes in the Ashmolean Museum. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 88-89 & Muscarella, O. W. (1988). Bronze and Iron: Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 103-104. Size: L:130mm / W:22mm ; 22.5g. Provenance: From an important London collection of S.A.; previously in a Central London, Mayfair gallery; originally obtained from an old British collection formed before 2000.
Lot 373
Ca. 1200-700 BC. Western Asiatic/Aegean. A bronze spear with a leaf-shaped blade with barbs, raised midrib, bevelled edges that taper to a pointed tip, short conical socket, and a long tang for insertion into a haft. Good condition, beautiful patina; custom-made stand included. Bronze weaponry production flourished in Western Asia, the Aegean, and mainland Greece from the 2nd millennium BC to about 700 BC, when it was gradually replaced by iron. Swords, spears, and arrows were important symbols of war in Greek Bronze Age societies and served as powerful reminders that authority rested in the hands of those who could earn it. For more information, see Moorey P. R. S. (1971). Catalogue of the Ancient Persian Bronzes in the Ashmolean Museum. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 88-89 & Muscarella, O. W. (1988). Bronze and Iron: Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 103-104. Size: L:143mm / W:20mm ; 21.5g. Provenance: From an important London collection of S.A.; previously in a Central London, Mayfair gallery; originally obtained from an old British collection formed in the 1980s.
Lot 374
Ca. 1200-700 BC. Western Asiatic/Aegean. A bronze spear with a leaf-shaped blade with barbs, raised midrib, bevelled edges that taper to a pointed tip, short socket, and a short tang for insertion into a haft. Good condition, beautiful patina; custom-made stand included. Bronze weaponry production flourished in Western Asia, the Aegean, and mainland Greece from the 2nd millennium BC to about 700 BC, when it was gradually replaced by iron. Swords, spears, and arrows were important symbols of war in Greek Bronze Age societies and served as powerful reminders that authority rested in the hands of those who could earn it. For more information, see Moorey P. R. S. (1971). Catalogue of the Ancient Persian Bronzes in the Ashmolean Museum. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 88-89 & Muscarella, O. W. (1988). Bronze and Iron: Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 103-104.Size: L:127mm / W:30mm ; 26g. Provenance: From an important London collection of S.A.; previously in a Central London, Mayfair gallery; originally obtained from an old British collection formed in the 1980s.
Lot 375
Ca. 1200-700 BC. Western Asiatic/Aegean. A bronze spearhead with a leaf-shaped, lentoid sectioned blade, raised midrib, a short socket and tang. Good condition, beautiful patina; custom-made stand included. Bronze weaponry production flourished in Western Asia, the Aegean, and mainland Greece from the 2nd millennium BC to about 700 BC, when it was gradually replaced by iron. Swords, spears, and arrows were important symbols of war in Greek Bronze Age societies and served as powerful reminders that authority rested in the hands of those who could earn it. For more information, see Moorey P. R. S. (1971). Catalogue of the Ancient Persian Bronzes in the Ashmolean Museum. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 88-89 & Muscarella, O. W. (1988). Bronze and Iron: Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 103-104. Size: L:130mm / W:26mm ; 31g. Provenance: From the private collection of S.A, Mayfair, London; formerly in an old British collection acquired on the UK and International art markets in the 1970s.
Lot 376
Ca. 1200-700 BC. Western Asiatic/Aegean. A bronze spear with a leaf-shaped blade, raised midrib, bevelled edges that taper to a pointed tip, short socket, and a short tang for insertion into a haft. Good condition, beautiful patina; custom-made stand included. Bronze weaponry production flourished in Western Asia, the Aegean, and mainland Greece from the 2nd millennium BC to about 700 BC, when it was gradually replaced by iron. Swords, spears, and arrows were important symbols of war in Greek Bronze Age societies and served as powerful reminders that authority rested in the hands of those who could earn it. For more information, see Moorey P. R. S. (1971). Catalogue of the Ancient Persian Bronzes in the Ashmolean Museum. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 88-89 & Muscarella, O. W. (1988). Bronze and Iron: Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 103-104. Size: L:142mm / W:21mm ; 26g. Provenance: From an important London collection of S.A.; previously in a Central London, Mayfair gallery; originally obtained from an old British collection formed before 2000.
Lot 377
Ca. 1200-700 BC. Western Asiatic/Aegean. A bronze spearhead with a lozenge-shaped, lentoid sectioned blade, raised midrib, and a short tang for insertion into a haft. Good condition, beautiful patina; custom-made stand included. Bronze weaponry production flourished in Western Asia, the Aegean, and mainland Greece from the 2nd millennium BC to about 700 BC, when it was gradually replaced by iron. Swords, spears, and arrows were important symbols of war in Greek Bronze Age societies and served as powerful reminders that authority rested in the hands of those who could earn it. For more information, see Moorey P. R. S. (1971). Catalogue of the Ancient Persian Bronzes in the Ashmolean Museum. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 88-89 & Muscarella, O. W. (1988). Bronze and Iron: Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 103-104. Size: L:117mm / W:30mm ; 31.5g. Provenance: From the private collection of S.A, Mayfair, London; formerly in an old British collection acquired on the UK and International art markets in the 1970s.
Lot 378
Ca. 1200-700 BC. Western Asiatic/Aegean. A bronze spear with a leaf-shaped blade with barbs, raised midrib, bevelled edges that taper to a pointed tip, short socket, and a short tang for insertion into a haft. Good condition, beautiful patina; custom-made stand included. Bronze weaponry production flourished in Western Asia, the Aegean, and mainland Greece from the 2nd millennium BC to about 700 BC, when it was gradually replaced by iron. Swords, spears, and arrows were important symbols of war in Greek Bronze Age societies and served as powerful reminders that authority rested in the hands of those who could earn it. For more information, see Moorey P. R. S. (1971). Catalogue of the Ancient Persian Bronzes in the Ashmolean Museum. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 88-89 & Muscarella, O. W. (1988). Bronze and Iron: Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 103-104. Size: L:96mm / W:25mm ; 17g. Provenance: From the private collection of S.A, Mayfair, London; formerly in an old British collection acquired on the UK and International art markets in the 1990s.
Lot 38
Ca. 200-400 AD. Late Roman. A wearable gold ring with an applied Roman oval bezel set with a cabochon garnet gem and a possibly later circular band decorated with parallel grooves. Excellent condition. The item has undergone X-ray fluorescence analysis to confirm the metallurgical content suggesting its ancient origin and lack of modern trace elements. It also comes with a gemological and historical report by an independent specialist Anna Rogers. This analysis will accompany the purchase. As in many ancient societies, jewellery was an important social marker used to demonstrate wealth in ancient Rome. As a result of the expansion of the Roman Empire, jewellery became more and more elaborate in its designs and materials used, such as precious and semi-precious gemstones. Roman jewellery often reflected the culture the Romans came into contact with and can be viewed as a testament to the prosperity and power of the Roman Empire. The most popular type of Roman jewellery were rings, as Romans of Imperial times enjoyed to wear large rings, extravagantly decorated with cameos or engraved precious stones. From the Roman Republic onwards, it became customary for all the senators, chief magistrates, and the equites to wear gold rings, known in Latin as 'annuli aurei', as a way to distinguish themselves from the plebeians. To find out more about Roman rings, see Higgins, R. (1980). Greek and Roman jewellery. London: Methuen. Size: D: 23.47mm / US: N/A / UK: Z +4; 5.8g. Provenance: Property of a North London professional; previously acquired on the UK/European art market in the 1990s.
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