Ancient Roman, Empire Writing Stylus
17
days
15
hours
15
minutes
04
seconds
Current bid
€ 100
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 210 - € 250
 | €100 | |
|---|---|---|
| €50 |
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Ancient Roman bronze writing stylus from the 1st–3rd century AD, about 130.7 mm long, with a pointed end for inscribing and a flat spatula end for smoothing wax tablets, in good condition with a green patina.
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.
A finely made ancient Roman bronze stylus with a long, slender body and decorative baluster-shaped mouldings arranged along the shaft. One end tapers to a sharp point used for inscribing letters, while the opposite end expands into a small, flattened spatula for smoothing or erasing the wax surface of a writing tablet.
The elongated central grip is subtly faceted and separated from the functional ends by raised collars and ornamental mouldings.
Total length: ± 130,7 mm
Condition: Good and solid condition. The bronze displays an attractive smooth green patina with areas of darker oxidation, mineral deposits and surface 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.
-> Romans commonly wrote temporary notes, accounts, lessons and correspondence on wooden tablets filled with a thin layer of beeswax. The pointed end of the stylus was used to scratch letters into the wax, while the broad spatulate end could smooth it again, effectively allowing mistakes to be erased and the tablet to be reused. This practical two-ended design made the stylus an essential instrument of education, administration and everyday literacy throughout the Roman world.
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.
A finely made ancient Roman bronze stylus with a long, slender body and decorative baluster-shaped mouldings arranged along the shaft. One end tapers to a sharp point used for inscribing letters, while the opposite end expands into a small, flattened spatula for smoothing or erasing the wax surface of a writing tablet.
The elongated central grip is subtly faceted and separated from the functional ends by raised collars and ornamental mouldings.
Total length: ± 130,7 mm
Condition: Good and solid condition. The bronze displays an attractive smooth green patina with areas of darker oxidation, mineral deposits and surface 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.
-> Romans commonly wrote temporary notes, accounts, lessons and correspondence on wooden tablets filled with a thin layer of beeswax. The pointed end of the stylus was used to scratch letters into the wax, while the broad spatulate end could smooth it again, effectively allowing mistakes to be erased and the tablet to be reused. This practical two-ended design made the stylus an essential instrument of education, administration and everyday literacy throughout the Roman world.
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, Empire
Century/timeframe
1st-3rd century AD
Name of object
Writing Stylus
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
