Lot 305 AN EXCEPTIONAL LATE ROMAN SILVER PARADE BELT FITTING WITH SILVER PARTIALLY GILT, LATE 4TH CENTURY AD
Made of multiple elements of silver sheet, strips, beaded wire and rods: hammered, cut, chiselled, punched, grooved, folded, chased and repoussé. Certain parts mercury-gilt: the plates, loop and tongue save for the beaded borders and hinged sections.This belt fitting [2] is composed of three rectangular plaques with a buckle and hinge pin. The central panel shows Jupiter standing holding the thunderbolt and scepter with an eagle at his feet. Below the ground line is another thunderbolt. Flanking Jupiter are Mars and Victory, respectively on the left and right. This ensemble compares very well with the specimen in the Ortiz collection and might be a little earlier date wise as the work is less schematic and the details are chased with more realism. 22.6 long 8.2 high. Silver with gold/mercury building. Roman 4th.c.A.D.
PROVENANCE
Private collection, Austria
Former Mr. Marcus Hollesberger of Munich between 1990-1993, previously they have been with Mr. Viktor Hruby in Vienna in the early 1980's.