Ancient Roman Silver Surgical / Medical tool
17
days
04
hours
46
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20
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Starting bid
€ 1
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Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 300 - € 380
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Ancient Roman silver surgical/medical tool, 111.4 mm long, dating to the 2nd–3rd century AD, in good condition, acquired in 2025 from the Netherlands, with original authenticity and a certificate 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.
Ancient Roman silver medical / cosmetic instrument, formed as a slender double-ended implement with small hooked terminals and a twisted grip at the centre, designed to improve grip.
-> Such dual-ended instruments were commonly employed in Roman medical practice, serving functions ranging from the application or removal of medicaments, stirring mixtures to minor surgical procedures. The hooked terminal could assist in manipulating tissue or extracting foreign matter.
Length: ± 111,4 mm
Condition: good solid condition. Signs of wear consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
-> The Roman world made use of a wide variety of small metal instruments associated with medicine, cosmetics, and personal care. Physicians, attendants, and household users employed probes, hooks, spatulas, and related tools for preparing ointments, treating wounds, applying substances, and maintaining personal hygiene. The close relationship between medicine and grooming in antiquity means that some tools can be difficult to assign to a single function with certainty.
Roman surgical and cosmetic instruments are especially admired for their functional precision and elegant simplicity. Even small tools were often carefully forged and shaped for specific tasks, and their survival offers a direct insight into practical knowledge in the ancient world. Silver examples are particularly appealing, uniting utility with a more refined material and suggesting the status or care invested in such specialised equipment.
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 medical / cosmetic instrument, formed as a slender double-ended implement with small hooked terminals and a twisted grip at the centre, designed to improve grip.
-> Such dual-ended instruments were commonly employed in Roman medical practice, serving functions ranging from the application or removal of medicaments, stirring mixtures to minor surgical procedures. The hooked terminal could assist in manipulating tissue or extracting foreign matter.
Length: ± 111,4 mm
Condition: good solid condition. Signs of wear consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
-> The Roman world made use of a wide variety of small metal instruments associated with medicine, cosmetics, and personal care. Physicians, attendants, and household users employed probes, hooks, spatulas, and related tools for preparing ointments, treating wounds, applying substances, and maintaining personal hygiene. The close relationship between medicine and grooming in antiquity means that some tools can be difficult to assign to a single function with certainty.
Roman surgical and cosmetic instruments are especially admired for their functional precision and elegant simplicity. Even small tools were often carefully forged and shaped for specific tasks, and their survival offers a direct insight into practical knowledge in the ancient world. Silver examples are particularly appealing, uniting utility with a more refined material and suggesting the status or care invested in such specialised equipment.
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
2nd - 3rd century AD
Name of object
Surgical / Medical tool
Acquired from
Antique market
Year acquired
2025
Material
Silver
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Antique market
Previous owner - year acquired
2025
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.
