Ancient Roman Seal box
04
days
05
hours
08
minutes
35
seconds
Current bid
€ 68
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 250 - € 330
10 other people are watching this object
 Bidder 4431 | €68 |
|---|
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 130637 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Ancient Roman bronze seal box from the 1st–2nd century AD, with a crescent moon in green enamel on the upper plate, olive-green patina, dimensions approx. 33.2 by 22.9 mm, in good condition and authentic/original.
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 bronze seal box, originally used to seal important documents, sealed together with wax.
The upper plate is decorated with a crescent moon which is filled with green glass paste/enamel.
The reverse features a hinged construction with a central loop and fastening element, allowing the box to be secured over a cord or binding thread. The interior would have enclosed and protected the wax seal beneath, preventing tampering.
Both sides are still intact!
-> Seal boxes were used throughout the Roman world to safeguard the integrity of sealed correspondence and goods. By enclosing the wax seal, they ensured that any interference would be immediately visible.
-> The perforations on the lid often held coloured enamel or glass inlays, adding both decorative appeal and visibility, while also possibly indicating ownership or status.
Length: ± 33,2 mm
Width: ± 22,9 mm
Condition: Very fine and solid condition. Enamel in crescent moon fully present. Olive-green patina with spots of cuprite. Minor surface irregularities and wear to the detailing, consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
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 bronze seal box, originally used to seal important documents, sealed together with wax.
The upper plate is decorated with a crescent moon which is filled with green glass paste/enamel.
The reverse features a hinged construction with a central loop and fastening element, allowing the box to be secured over a cord or binding thread. The interior would have enclosed and protected the wax seal beneath, preventing tampering.
Both sides are still intact!
-> Seal boxes were used throughout the Roman world to safeguard the integrity of sealed correspondence and goods. By enclosing the wax seal, they ensured that any interference would be immediately visible.
-> The perforations on the lid often held coloured enamel or glass inlays, adding both decorative appeal and visibility, while also possibly indicating ownership or status.
Length: ± 33,2 mm
Width: ± 22,9 mm
Condition: Very fine and solid condition. Enamel in crescent moon fully present. Olive-green patina with spots of cuprite. Minor surface irregularities and wear to the detailing, consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
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
Seal box
Acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Year acquired
2024
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Previous owner - year acquired
2024
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.
