Ancient Roman Silver Battle Axe Pendant - 23 mm

07
days
10
hours
05
minutes
43
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
Peter Reynaers
Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers

Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.

Estimate  € 450 - € 650
No bids placed

Catawiki Buyer Protection

Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details

Trustpilot 4.4 | 140426 reviews

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.

Ancient Roman silver Battle Axe Pendant dating to the 1st–2nd century A.D., 23 mm high, in good condition and authentic, from Privécollectie in the Netherlands.

AI-assisted summary

Description from the seller

Ancient Roman Silver Battle Axe Pendant
Culture / Period: Ancient Roman
Date / Period: 1st–2nd century A.D.
Material: Silver
Dimensions: 23 mm
Condition: Good condition

No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid.

Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 961

The current owner (S.N.J. S.) purchased the battle axe pendant from J.v.S. in Putten, The Netherlands.

The previous owner, J.v.S. from Putten, stated that the object had been in his collection since the 1990s.

According to the previous owner, the object had previously been in a private collection in The Netherlands since the 1990s.

No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.

Background Information:
Miniature axe-shaped pendants belong to the broader tradition of personal ornaments and amulets worn in the Roman world. This silver example is formed as a stylised axe head with an integral suspension opening, allowing it to be worn on a cord or chain. Such miniature objects could function as jewellery while also carrying symbolic or protective associations.

The axe was a familiar implement throughout antiquity, used in practical, military and ceremonial contexts. In miniature form, its precise significance could vary according to region and wearer, and an individual pendant cannot necessarily be assigned a specific meaning without a documented archaeological context. Its manufacture in silver, however, places it within the established Roman tradition of producing small personal ornaments from precious metal.

During the 1st and 2nd centuries A.D., the Roman Empire supported extensive networks of craftsmen, merchants and military communities through which jewellery types and decorative traditions circulated over considerable distances. Small portable objects such as pendants were particularly suited to this interconnected environment and could accompany their owners throughout different regions of the Empire.

Dating to the Early Roman Imperial period, this pendant reflects the close relationship between personal adornment, symbolism and everyday material culture. Its compact form and suspension opening preserve its original character as an object intended to be carried or worn, providing a tangible connection to personal life within the Roman world.

Ancient Roman Silver Battle Axe Pendant
Culture / Period: Ancient Roman
Date / Period: 1st–2nd century A.D.
Material: Silver
Dimensions: 23 mm
Condition: Good condition

No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid.

Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 961

The current owner (S.N.J. S.) purchased the battle axe pendant from J.v.S. in Putten, The Netherlands.

The previous owner, J.v.S. from Putten, stated that the object had been in his collection since the 1990s.

According to the previous owner, the object had previously been in a private collection in The Netherlands since the 1990s.

No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.

Background Information:
Miniature axe-shaped pendants belong to the broader tradition of personal ornaments and amulets worn in the Roman world. This silver example is formed as a stylised axe head with an integral suspension opening, allowing it to be worn on a cord or chain. Such miniature objects could function as jewellery while also carrying symbolic or protective associations.

The axe was a familiar implement throughout antiquity, used in practical, military and ceremonial contexts. In miniature form, its precise significance could vary according to region and wearer, and an individual pendant cannot necessarily be assigned a specific meaning without a documented archaeological context. Its manufacture in silver, however, places it within the established Roman tradition of producing small personal ornaments from precious metal.

During the 1st and 2nd centuries A.D., the Roman Empire supported extensive networks of craftsmen, merchants and military communities through which jewellery types and decorative traditions circulated over considerable distances. Small portable objects such as pendants were particularly suited to this interconnected environment and could accompany their owners throughout different regions of the Empire.

Dating to the Early Roman Imperial period, this pendant reflects the close relationship between personal adornment, symbolism and everyday material culture. Its compact form and suspension opening preserve its original character as an object intended to be carried or worn, providing a tangible connection to personal life within the Roman world.

Details

Culture
Ancient Roman
Century/timeframe
1st-2nd century A.D.
Name of object
Battle Axe Pendant
Acquired from
Private collection
Year acquired
2026
Material
Silver
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Private collection
Height
23 mm
Previous owner - year acquired
1990
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
The NetherlandsVerified
273
Objects sold
98.68%
Privatetop

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.

Similar objects

For you in

Archaeology