Antik romer Bronze Farmaceutisk ske (Ligula) - 76 mm (Ingen mindstepris)

"Ancient Roman Bronze Pharmaceutical Spoon (Ligula)

Culture / Period: Ancient Roman
Date / Period: 1st - 2nd century A.D.
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 76 mm
Condition: Good condition

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Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 824

The current owner purchased the Ancient Roman Bronze Pharmaceutical Spoon (Ligula) from a private collector in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

The previous owner, a private collector, N.N. from Utrecht (the Netherlands), stated that the object had been in his collection since the 1990's.

According to the previous owner, the object had previously been in a private collection in the Netherlands since the 1990's.

No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.

Background Information:

This bronze ligula is a fine example of a Roman pharmaceutical and cosmetic spoon dating to the Early Imperial period. Characterised by its slender shaft and small rounded bowl, such instruments were designed for handling very small quantities of liquids, powders, ointments, perfumes, or medicinal preparations with precision.

Ligulae formed part of the standard equipment of Roman physicians, pharmacists, and households. They were used to prepare, mix, transfer, and administer medicines, but also found application in the preparation of cosmetics, scented oils, and pigments. Similar examples have been recovered from domestic dwellings, military forts, medical workshops, and graves throughout the Roman Empire, demonstrating their widespread everyday use.

Roman bronze ligulae were carefully cast and finished by skilled metalworkers, producing durable instruments suitable for repeated use. Their elegant yet practical design reflects the sophisticated level of Roman medicine and personal care, influenced by earlier Greek medical traditions and further developed throughout the Imperial period. Such instruments were traded across large distances, reaching regions such as present-day Germany, France, Britain, and the Netherlands.

Dating to the 1st–2nd century A.D., this example belongs to the height of the Roman Empire, when professional medical practice, pharmacy, and personal hygiene played an increasingly important role in urban and military life.

This piece provides a direct and tangible connection to the daily practice of Roman medicine and personal care, illustrating how finely crafted bronze instruments were indispensable tools in the treatment of patients and the preparation of remedies nearly two thousand years ago.