Roman bronze inkwell with lid. Imperial period, 1st - 2nd century A.D. H with handle 8.8 cm, W with handle 8.4 cm. Pyxis with twisted and engraved decoration and profiled top. The sides with small attachments in the shape of theater masks with square omega handles. The small lid attached to it by a chain. With certificate of authenticity from Galerie Günter Puhze, Freiburg im Breisgau! Published in: Kunst der Antike - Galerie Günter Puhze catalog 17, 2003, no. 75 (copy enclosed). Green patina, minimal traces of corrosion to the foot, otherwise intact. Provenance: From the collection of R. L., Lower Saxony, acquired in 2004 from Galerie Puhze, Freiburg im Breisgau; ex collection of J.-P. M.d.S., previously French collection.

Composed of several subsidiaries, the Drouot Group is a major player in the art market. Hôtel Drouot, located in the heart of Paris, has been the world's largest public auction center since 1852. 15 salerooms are available to more than 70 auction houses. The emulation generated by an annual offer of 230,000 artworks from 21 major specialities - from Antiquity to street art - attracts some 3,000 visitors every day. The Group's digital platform, Drouot.com, offers digital sales - Live auctions (live broadcasting and participation in auctions), Online-only auctions (dematerialised auctions) and Buy Now sales (sales of lots at fixed prices). Nearly 2 million items are offered annually by 600 auction houses. Auction news is reported every week in La Gazette Drouot, the leading weekly magazine for the art market and culture published by Auctionspress.