Ancient Roman Silver Hairpin, with Dolphin
03
days
03
hours
16
minutes
42
seconds
Current bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 500 - € 650
13 other people are watching this object
 Bidder 6688 | €1 |
|---|
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 128856 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Ancient Roman solid silver hairpin with a dolphin finial, dating to the 1st–2nd century AD, about 99.5 mm long, in good condition with a slightly bent pin, acquired in 2023 from the Netherlands via a dealer at a fair; certificate of authenticity available on request.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Roman solid silver hairpin with a finial in the shape of a stylised Dolphin with curved tail.
The terminal shows the characteristic rounded head and short snout, with incised detailing to depict the eyes and finned tail. The tapering pin is slightly curved. In front of the snout is a semi-circular shell-shaped element.
Total length: ± 99,5 mm
Condition: good solid condition, the pin is slightly bent due to pressure conditions. Signs of wear consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
Dolphins were popular in Greek and Roman mythology and are often associated with Neptune (god of the sea) and Venus as a symbol of love or minor sea deities as a symbol of divine protection and salvation.
Dolphins are considered a friendly messenger, sent to help and guide those lost at sea.
MATERIAL
This object has been carefully examined with regard to its material composition and surface characteristics.
Specialised laboratory analysis such as metallurgical testing (e.g. XRF) is not routinely undertaken in private collecting and is more commonly associated with academic or institutional research.
Destructive testing methods (such as acid testing) permanently damage the object’s surface and are not appropriate for archaeological material.
Historically, modern hallmarking systems did not exist. The alloy composition of gold and silver could vary depending on local resources, trade networks, recycling practices and prevailing economic conditions.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Roman solid silver hairpin with a finial in the shape of a stylised Dolphin with curved tail.
The terminal shows the characteristic rounded head and short snout, with incised detailing to depict the eyes and finned tail. The tapering pin is slightly curved. In front of the snout is a semi-circular shell-shaped element.
Total length: ± 99,5 mm
Condition: good solid condition, the pin is slightly bent due to pressure conditions. Signs of wear consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
Dolphins were popular in Greek and Roman mythology and are often associated with Neptune (god of the sea) and Venus as a symbol of love or minor sea deities as a symbol of divine protection and salvation.
Dolphins are considered a friendly messenger, sent to help and guide those lost at sea.
MATERIAL
This object has been carefully examined with regard to its material composition and surface characteristics.
Specialised laboratory analysis such as metallurgical testing (e.g. XRF) is not routinely undertaken in private collecting and is more commonly associated with academic or institutional research.
Destructive testing methods (such as acid testing) permanently damage the object’s surface and are not appropriate for archaeological material.
Historically, modern hallmarking systems did not exist. The alloy composition of gold and silver could vary depending on local resources, trade networks, recycling practices and prevailing economic conditions.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Details
Culture
Ancient Roman
Century/timeframe
1st - 2nd century AD
Name of object
with Dolphin, Hairpin
Acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Year acquired
2023
Material
Silver
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Previous owner - year acquired
2023
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
