Αρχαίος Ρωμαίος μπρούντζος Αγκίστρι - 34 mm (χωρίς τιμή ασφαλείας)

«Ancient Roman Bronze Fish Hook

Culture / Period: Ancient Roman
Date / Period: 1st - 2nd Century A.D.
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: Length: 34 mm
Condition: Good condition

No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid.

Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 69

The current owner purchased this Ancient Roman bronze fish hook from a private collector, N.N., in Tilburg, the Netherlands. The previous owner, a private collector from Tilburg, stated that the object had been in his collection since an unknown date. According to the previous owner, the object had previously been in a private collection in the Netherlands since the 1980s. No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.

Background Information:
This bronze fish hook is a practical tool from the Roman Early Imperial period. Fish hooks were used for line fishing in rivers, lakes, coastal waters, and harbours, forming part of the wider equipment used in food gathering and local trade. Such objects were handled by fishermen, boatmen, householders, and others involved in the supply of fresh or preserved fish.

Fishing played an important role in the Roman economy and daily diet. Fish was consumed fresh where available and could also be processed into salted products or fish sauces, which were distributed through Roman commercial networks. A small bronze hook such as this reflects the practical tools behind everyday food production and supply.

The manufacture of bronze fish hooks required controlled metalworking skills. The metal was shaped into a curved form with a pointed end and a fastening section for attaching the line. Its simple design reflects a long-established and effective tool tradition, adapted for repeated use in daily work.

Comparable fishing implements are known across the Roman world, from Mediterranean coastal regions to inland provinces. Their distribution reflects the importance of fishing in both urban and rural communities. This piece provides a direct and physical link to Roman daily life, where objects of this kind played a practical role in food procurement, work, and local economy.