Ancient Roman Bronze Large Ring Bezel with Female Profile






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Ancient Roman bronze large ring bezel with a female profile bust in relief, circa 3rd century AD, from a private collection, condition good, authenticity original/official.
Description from the seller
An Ancient Roman bronze ring bezel, featuring a wide oval shape and depicts a female profile bust in relief. The figure is portrayed with an elaborate hairstyle, with the hair drawn back in a chignon. The facial features, are mostly worn but some details can be made out, for example a long pointed nose, deeply set eyes and a small mouth. A long neck leads to sloping shoulders. The profile is reminiscent of the portraits of Ptolemaic queens Arsinoe II or Berenike II. The reverse of the bezel shows remnants of broken ring shoulders. Signs of wear as consistent with its age, such as scratches, surface pitting, and earthy encrustations.
In Ancient Roman society, jewellery was an essential accessory, providing the wearer with a public display of their wealth, social status, and identity. Roman jewellery at first followed the trends set by the Etruscans, employing the use of gold and glass beads. As the power and spread of the Roman Empire increased, jewellery designs became increasingly elaborate, utilising the many different materials, techniques, and styles found across the expanding empire, particularly from Greece, Egypt, North Africa, and the Orient. Rings were widely worn by men, women, and children, across the empire, with some rings having a practical use, such as signets, whilst others purely for decoration.
Measurements: Bezel: (circa) L 2.6cm x W 2.1cm. Width with the band fragments: 1.3
Provenance: From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.
Seller's Story
An Ancient Roman bronze ring bezel, featuring a wide oval shape and depicts a female profile bust in relief. The figure is portrayed with an elaborate hairstyle, with the hair drawn back in a chignon. The facial features, are mostly worn but some details can be made out, for example a long pointed nose, deeply set eyes and a small mouth. A long neck leads to sloping shoulders. The profile is reminiscent of the portraits of Ptolemaic queens Arsinoe II or Berenike II. The reverse of the bezel shows remnants of broken ring shoulders. Signs of wear as consistent with its age, such as scratches, surface pitting, and earthy encrustations.
In Ancient Roman society, jewellery was an essential accessory, providing the wearer with a public display of their wealth, social status, and identity. Roman jewellery at first followed the trends set by the Etruscans, employing the use of gold and glass beads. As the power and spread of the Roman Empire increased, jewellery designs became increasingly elaborate, utilising the many different materials, techniques, and styles found across the expanding empire, particularly from Greece, Egypt, North Africa, and the Orient. Rings were widely worn by men, women, and children, across the empire, with some rings having a practical use, such as signets, whilst others purely for decoration.
Measurements: Bezel: (circa) L 2.6cm x W 2.1cm. Width with the band fragments: 1.3
Provenance: From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.
Seller's Story
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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.
