Copper alloy, 35.26 grams; 87.46 mm. Circa 3rd-4th century AD. A beautifully cast bronze lock hasp depicting a stylised male figure. The head is of real form with a large securing loop on top connected to the wide chest section which has two small projections that represent the arms. The lower body and legs are in the form of a long tapering column with decorated pillar at the base, in the centre of this column is a square section with a raised triangle, this represents the groin area. A stunning piece in extremely fine condition. Ex English collection.

Marble, 1430 grams; 239 mm. Circa Late 2nd - Early 3rd Century A.D. Shown in relief is a depiction of the priest defied and would have had an elaborate inscription dedicating this stone to commemorate his life. A priest is shown, his right hand holding a patera? And sacrificing over an alter; his left hand is draped around his waist with a toga hanging from his waist. There are depictions of togate figures sacrificing over alter on the coinage of Septimius Severus, Caracalla and Geta, probably contemporary with this item. Steles are known to commemorate the deaths of priest, one such example with a lengthy inscription was recently released for sale at $40,000.00.

Base width: 23.5 cm; Height: 64 cm. An impressive 2nd Century A.D. marble torso of Hercules celebrating his eleventh labour. In his left hand he holds the bowl which would have contained four apples protected by the Hesperides, the stealing of which was one of Hercules' labours. Since Hercules sent Atlas to procure the apples, scenes of the labour itself are not generally seen, and are therefore rare. This statue however, shows Hercules holding the bowl (frag), which would have contained Zeus' Golden apples. Carved here in all his splendour, Hercules with his left leg bent leans on his club. The bottom of the club can clearly be seen running down the back of his leg and is positioned behind his left heel. He pulls the lion's skin over his left shoulder by the beast's back legs, and across the front of his upper body with his left hand held in a fist. The head of the lion hangs over his left arm, with the lions front paws hanging over the club to the left of this ankle. This marble is NUMIDIAN, from Tunisia, North Africa. It is called giallo antico, from the ancient Roman Quarries at Chemtou; a rich golden or pale yellow marble. This statue of the god Hercules was carved from the most beautiful and rare type which has veins of orange and pink running through it. This pink and yellow marble was prized throughout the Roman world. Good detail and muscular body form are magnified by the use of exquisite marble and a famous subject. The Roman god Hercules was a classical figure much revered by the Romans and especially the Roman Army. Hercules is nearly always depicted naked, but the commissioner of this work had the artist depict the torso wrapped by the lion's skin. In our opinion this statue could be one of the 'lost' statues of Commodus dressed as Hercules. Click on this link to learn more. An expertly crafted work of art probably from a temple. Click here for more images. From an old English collection.

Copper alloy, 38.96 grams; 66.54 mm. 2nd Century A.D. naked figure of Mercury. He was the messenger of the gods. The wings on his helmet and sandals allowed him to travel very quickly to wherever a god might send him. He was the god of travellers and tradesmen. Wonderful patination. This statue is an exquisite piece of 2nd Century Roman art, with beautiful body form and classical posture.

Copper alloy, 58.14 grams; 70.55 mm. 2nd Century A.D. Draped in chlamys around the neck, and wearing his winged petasos, otherwise naked figure of Mercury. He is standing, holding a bag purse, and his snake entwined Herod’s staff, the caduceus. Mercury was the messenger of the gods. The wings on his helmet and sandals allowed him to travel very quickly to wherever a god might send him. He was the god of travellers and tradesmen. Very Fine. Found Bawtry.

Copper alloy, 65 grams, 41.45 mm. 1st Century A.D. Male lion standing left, facing head one quarter to right, and raising front left paw as if in combat. Standing on hollow trapezoidal plinth with a heavy strap bar end to end. Good Very Fine condition. A stunning piece

Copper alloy, 28.79 grams; 38.82 mm. 1st - 2nd Century A.D. A cockerel standing with a raised tail, wings tucked into its body, and a long neck with its head. The feet were probably soldered to a base to create a freestanding ornament. The cockerel is encountered frequently in Roman Mythology, specifically in the cult of Mercury, who it is symbolic of and represents the herald of a new day. Very Fine condition.

Stone, 185 grams, 97.36 mm. Circa 1st Century B.C. - 1st Century A.D. An amusing stone sculpture, carved from a single piece of stone it depicts a male facing right, holding a chlamys in his left hand and using the right hand to support a large emphasised phallus. A large amount of the original paint still present on the body and tip of the phallus. Very Rare and in Very Fine condition. Found eastern Mediterranean.

Copper alloy, 48.89 grams, 53.55 mm. 2nd Century A.D. Male lion standing left, facing head one quarter to right. The head has good features which are quite detailed, feet and two legs missing. Fine condition.

Roman 'Aesculapius' Staff. Marble, 470 grams; 124 x 82 mm. The most important part of the wand or staff of Aesculapius (Roman god of health and medicine), with a single snake entwined around and a wolf's head - a representation of Apollo, Aesculapius's father, at the base. Asclepius or Aesculapius as he was known to the Romans, was revered as a divinely inspired physician. Shrines and temples of healing known as Asclepieia were erected throughout Greece and later the Roman Empire where the sick would come to worship and seek cures for their ills. Harmless serpents were kept in these temples of healing, lovingly tended by Asclepiu's daughter Hygeia, the personification of health. Snakes were held sacred by Asclepius and he himself was thought to sometimes appear in the form of a snake. Patients who saw snakes in their dreams believed that the god of healing himself had come to their aid. The ancient symbol of Asclepius is this knotted wooden staff around which you can see the mystical snake coiled. This staff of Aesculapius with a coiled serpent became the traditional symbol of medicine. Today this represents the modern medical profession, and is a symbol of health and wisdom. In Genesis, Moses held up a serpent on a staff as an example of Christ, to heal the Jews. Apollo was the son of Jupiter and Leto, twin brother of Diana and father to Aesculapius. He is represented here as the wolf. He was the god of healing who taught his son and mankind medicine. Aesclapius was worshipped as the god of medicine and was portrayed with the Olympian attitude of Zeus recognisable by his prime attribute, the snake, a symbol of rejuvenescence (the snake changes its skin). A Very Rare antiquity in beautiful crystalline marble. This item has a fabulous British provenance. Ex. Seaby, Ex. M Darwin collection [A descendant of Charles Darwin], Ex. M Pullen.

Bronze, 55.84 grams, 45.26 mm. A very nice 1st Century A.D. Torso of Priapus the Roman God of Fertility. This piece has been broken (head, feet and phallic) and 'gifted' as a votive offering to ensure the fertility of land or a marriage. Sex in Roman times was a symbol of power and therefore the phallic symbol stood for power in Roman society. Priapus was the Greek protector of gardens and domestic animals and fruits. He is a son of Dionysus and Aphrodite, and a strong phallic fertility deity. Carved images of Priapus, with large ithyphallic genitals, were placed in fields and gardens to ensure fruitfulness and protection. This god was imported into Rome from Lampascus where Pausanias reported he was supreme among all gods. The Roman Priapus was far more popular than his Greek version. Found Pompeii in the late 19th Century. Ex. Pullen collection. Statues of Priapus are quite rare.