Ancient Roman Ring 'Kissing Dolphins'
02
days
05
hours
18
minutes
36
seconds
Current bid
€ 20
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 200 - € 220
26 other people are watching this object
 Bidder 3049 | €20 | |
|---|---|---|
 Bidder 0885 | €15 | |
| Bidder 0885 | €10 | |
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Ancient Roman silver ring with a bezel formed by two opposing dolphin heads meeting at the centre, outer diameter about 22.1 mm and inner diameter about 15.2–17.8 mm, in good wearable condition with an attractive patina, authenticity original/official and a Certificate of Authenticity available upon 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.
Ancient Roman silver ring. The bezel is formed by two opposing dolphin heads. The animals curve symmetrically towards one another so that their snouts meet in the centre, creating the characteristic motif often described as “kissing dolphins.”
-> 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 were widely associated with protection, guidance and safe passage, particularly in relation to the sea and the afterlife. As a friendly and intelligent animal, the dolphin also symbolised harmony and good fortune, making it a popular decorative motif in Roman jewellery and art.
Outside diameter: ± 22,1 mm
Inside diameter: ± 15,2 - 17,8 mm
Bezel: ± 8,7 mm maximum width
Condition: good solid condition and wearable. Smooth silver surface with attractive patina and signs of wear consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
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.
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.
Ancient Roman silver ring. The bezel is formed by two opposing dolphin heads. The animals curve symmetrically towards one another so that their snouts meet in the centre, creating the characteristic motif often described as “kissing dolphins.”
-> 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 were widely associated with protection, guidance and safe passage, particularly in relation to the sea and the afterlife. As a friendly and intelligent animal, the dolphin also symbolised harmony and good fortune, making it a popular decorative motif in Roman jewellery and art.
Outside diameter: ± 22,1 mm
Inside diameter: ± 15,2 - 17,8 mm
Bezel: ± 8,7 mm maximum width
Condition: good solid condition and wearable. Smooth silver surface with attractive patina and signs of wear consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
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.
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-3rd century AD
Name of object
Ring 'Kissing Dolphins'
Acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Year acquired
2026
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Previous owner - year acquired
2026
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.
