Ancient Roman Bronze Ring with a Stylised Vulva, symbol of Fertility - 21 mm
14
days
23
hours
55
minutes
48
seconds
Current bid
€ 14
Reserve price not met
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Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 210 - € 250
 | €14 | |
|---|---|---|
| €11 | |
| €3 | |
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Ancient Roman bronze ring with an oval bezel engraved with a stylised vulva motif representing fertility; 2nd–3rd century A.D.; 21 mm; in good condition; acquired in 2026 from Privécollectie in the Netherlands.
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Description from the seller
"Ancient Roman Bronze Ring with Stylised Fertility Motif
Culture / Period: Ancient Roman
Date / Period: 2nd–3rd century A.D.
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 21 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: 662
The current owner purchased the Ancient Roman bronze ring with stylised fertility motif from a private collector, N.N.
The previous owner, a private collector, N.N. from the Netherlands, 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:
This cast bronze finger ring features an oval bezel engraved with a stylised vulva motif, a symbolic representation associated in the Roman world with fertility, protection, femininity, and the generative forces of nature. Such imagery formed part of a wider tradition of apotropaic symbols believed to promote prosperity, safeguard the wearer, and ward off misfortune.
Roman society frequently employed fertility-related imagery in jewellery, household objects, and personal amulets. Alongside representations of the phallus, the vulva was regarded as a powerful protective symbol whose significance extended beyond sexuality into the realms of health, abundance, and divine favour. Rings bearing such motifs were worn as personal ornaments while also serving an amuletic function.
The ring was produced by skilled Roman bronze workers using established casting techniques, after which the bezel was engraved with the symbolic design. Comparable rings and amuletic objects have been recovered from settlements, military sites, villas, and urban centres throughout the Roman Empire, demonstrating the widespread popularity of protective and fertility symbolism across many provinces."} } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } √
"Ancient Roman Bronze Ring with Stylised Fertility Motif
Culture / Period: Ancient Roman
Date / Period: 2nd–3rd century A.D.
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 21 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: 662
The current owner purchased the Ancient Roman bronze ring with stylised fertility motif from a private collector, N.N.
The previous owner, a private collector, N.N. from the Netherlands, 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:
This cast bronze finger ring features an oval bezel engraved with a stylised vulva motif, a symbolic representation associated in the Roman world with fertility, protection, femininity, and the generative forces of nature. Such imagery formed part of a wider tradition of apotropaic symbols believed to promote prosperity, safeguard the wearer, and ward off misfortune.
Roman society frequently employed fertility-related imagery in jewellery, household objects, and personal amulets. Alongside representations of the phallus, the vulva was regarded as a powerful protective symbol whose significance extended beyond sexuality into the realms of health, abundance, and divine favour. Rings bearing such motifs were worn as personal ornaments while also serving an amuletic function.
The ring was produced by skilled Roman bronze workers using established casting techniques, after which the bezel was engraved with the symbolic design. Comparable rings and amuletic objects have been recovered from settlements, military sites, villas, and urban centres throughout the Roman Empire, demonstrating the widespread popularity of protective and fertility symbolism across many provinces."} } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } √
Details
Culture
Ancient Roman
Century/timeframe
2nd - 3rd century A.D.
Name of object
Ring with a Stylised Vulva, symbol of Fertility
Acquired from
Private collection
Year acquired
2026
Material
Bronze
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Private collection
Height
21 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
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.
