Römisches Reich Silber Anhänger mit zwei sich gegenüberstehenden Büsten

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Ancient Roman silver pendant of circular form, with a ribbed suspension loop above and an intaglio-style relief showing a male and female facing bust within the roundel.

A small and finely made personal ornament, combining decorative form with figural imagery.

-> Roman jewellery with paired facing busts may have commemorative, protective, or symbolic significance. Such miniature images could represent deities, spouses, family members, idealised marriage or betrothal portraits, reflecting the Roman taste for meaningful personal jewellery.

Condition: Good ancient condition with age-related wear, surface irregularities and deposits. Finely and detailed portraits. The pendant remains well preserved overall, with the suspension loop intact and the paired busts still clearly visible.

Size: ± 15,2 mm (including suspension loop)
Diameter: ± 11,2 mm

Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request for all lots with a hammer price of €100 or higher.

-> Personal pendants were widely worn in the Roman world and could serve many purposes beyond simple adornment. Some were amuletic, others devotional, commemorative, or sentimental, and many carried images chosen for their symbolic value. Precious metal examples in silver were especially suitable for intimate personal jewellery, combining durability with a refined appearance.

Miniature bust imagery was a familiar feature in Roman visual culture, appearing on coins, rings, medallions, and pendants. When shown as paired facing portraits, such figures could suggest harmony, union, dynastic association, or private devotion. Objects such as this reflect the Roman preference for jewellery that was not only attractive, but also expressive of identity, belief, and personal connection.



Material:
This object has been carefully examined for its material and surface characteristics.

Laboratory analysis (e.g. XRF) is not routinely undertaken in private collecting, and destructive testing is avoided as it causes permanent damage to archaeological material.

Before modern hallmarking, gold and silver alloys varied depending on local resources, recycling practices and economic conditions.