The Berthouville silver treasure and Roman luxury

This sumpluously illustrated and elegantly produced volume unveils an ancient treasure to modern-day readers.

In 1830 a farmer ploughing a field near the village of Berthouville in Normandy, discovered a trave of ancient Roman silver objects weighing some 55 pounds (25 kilograms).

The Berthouville Treasure, as the find came to be known, includes two statuettes representing the Gallo-Roman god Mercury and approximately sixty vessels - bowls, cups, pitchers, and plates, many of which bear votive inscriptions - along with dozens of smaller components and fragments.

Dedicated to Mercury by various individuals, the treasure, including some of the finest ancient Roman silver to survive, fortunately escaped being melted down.

This sumptuously illustrated volume presents the highlights of the treasure and other Roman luxury arts from the holdings of the Cabinet des medailles - including precious gems, jewellrey, gold coins, and coloured marbles - and contextualizes them in a series of elucidating essays.