Ancient Roman Seal Box
10
days
07
hours
17
minutes
37
seconds
Current bid
€ 22
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 210 - € 250
7 other people are watching this object
 | €22 | |
|---|---|---|
| €17 | |
| €12 |
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Ancient Roman bronze seal box from the 2nd–3rd century AD, oval with a hinged lid decorated by concentric raised circles, underside perforations, dimensions approx. 27.1 × 17.2 × 7.7 mm, in good condition with olive‑green patina, complete with lid and hinge, acquired in 2026 from a Belgian dealer with provenance through a 2025 transfer, authenticity: original/official, certificate of authenticity available upon request for lots €100+.
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 bronze seal box, used to seal important documents, sealed together with wax. Oval shape box with a hinged lid which is decorated with a series of concentric raised circles. The underside shows the characteristic perforations used in seal boxes.
-> 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.
Length: ± 27,1 mm
Width: ± 17,2 mm
Height: ± 7,7 mm
Good and solid condition, complete with lid and hinge. Appealing olive-green patina and signs of wear, consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request for all lots with a hammer price of €100 or higher.
-> Roman seal boxes were small hinged metal containers, usually cast in bronze, made to protect the wax seal which was used to fasten and authenticate an item. They were chiefly employed on letters, documents, and parcels: a cord was threaded through the box, secured with wax, and then impressed with a signet, helping to show whether the contents had been opened or interfered with in transit.
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 bronze seal box, used to seal important documents, sealed together with wax. Oval shape box with a hinged lid which is decorated with a series of concentric raised circles. The underside shows the characteristic perforations used in seal boxes.
-> 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.
Length: ± 27,1 mm
Width: ± 17,2 mm
Height: ± 7,7 mm
Good and solid condition, complete with lid and hinge. Appealing olive-green patina and signs of wear, consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request for all lots with a hammer price of €100 or higher.
-> Roman seal boxes were small hinged metal containers, usually cast in bronze, made to protect the wax seal which was used to fasten and authenticate an item. They were chiefly employed on letters, documents, and parcels: a cord was threaded through the box, secured with wax, and then impressed with a signet, helping to show whether the contents had been opened or interfered with in transit.
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
Seal Box
Acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Year acquired
2026
Country acquired from
Belgium
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Previous owner - year acquired
2025
Previous owner - country acquired from
Belgium
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.
