Ancient Roman Bronze Hairpin - 126 mm
16
days
05
hours
50
minutes
21
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 210 - € 250
No bids placed
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 142553 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Ancient Roman bronze hair pin, 126 mm long, dating to the 1st–2nd century AD, in good condition, acquired from a private collection in the Netherlands via a Dutch auction house, with original authenticity and EU export restrictions.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
"Ancient Roman Bronze Hair Pin
Culture / Period: Ancient Roman
Date / Period: 1st–2nd century A.D.
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 126 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: 741
The current owner purchased this object from a reputable Dutch numismatic auction house in Schiedam, the Netherlands. Due to privacy regulations, the name of the previous owner could not be disclosed. No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.
.
Background Information:
This elegant bronze hair pin features a finely moulded, mushroom-shaped terminal, a decorative form characteristic of Roman personal grooming implements. Hair pins of this type were used to secure elaborate hairstyles, which became increasingly fashionable throughout the Roman Imperial period. Their combination of practicality and ornament reflects the importance attached to personal appearance in Roman society.
Roman women often arranged their hair in sophisticated buns, coils, and braided styles that required numerous pins to hold them securely in place. Hair pins were therefore indispensable items of personal dress and could be made from bronze, bone, ivory, silver, or gold according to the owner's wealth. Bronze examples, such as this one, were durable, affordable, and widely used throughout the Empire.
Produced by skilled bronze workers using established casting and finishing techniques, these objects were manufactured in specialised workshops and traded across the Roman provinces. Similar hair pins have been recovered from domestic settlements, villas, military communities, bathhouses, and cemeteries, demonstrating their widespread use in everyday life.
Dating to the 1st–2nd century A.D., this hair pin belongs to the height of the Roman Imperial period, when elaborate hairstyles reflected changing fashions, social status, and cultural identity. It forms a tangible connection to the ancient world, where objects of this kind were essential accessories that combined skilled craftsmanship with the practical needs of everyday Roman life."
"Ancient Roman Bronze Hair Pin
Culture / Period: Ancient Roman
Date / Period: 1st–2nd century A.D.
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 126 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: 741
The current owner purchased this object from a reputable Dutch numismatic auction house in Schiedam, the Netherlands. Due to privacy regulations, the name of the previous owner could not be disclosed. No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.
.
Background Information:
This elegant bronze hair pin features a finely moulded, mushroom-shaped terminal, a decorative form characteristic of Roman personal grooming implements. Hair pins of this type were used to secure elaborate hairstyles, which became increasingly fashionable throughout the Roman Imperial period. Their combination of practicality and ornament reflects the importance attached to personal appearance in Roman society.
Roman women often arranged their hair in sophisticated buns, coils, and braided styles that required numerous pins to hold them securely in place. Hair pins were therefore indispensable items of personal dress and could be made from bronze, bone, ivory, silver, or gold according to the owner's wealth. Bronze examples, such as this one, were durable, affordable, and widely used throughout the Empire.
Produced by skilled bronze workers using established casting and finishing techniques, these objects were manufactured in specialised workshops and traded across the Roman provinces. Similar hair pins have been recovered from domestic settlements, villas, military communities, bathhouses, and cemeteries, demonstrating their widespread use in everyday life.
Dating to the 1st–2nd century A.D., this hair pin belongs to the height of the Roman Imperial period, when elaborate hairstyles reflected changing fashions, social status, and cultural identity. It forms a tangible connection to the ancient world, where objects of this kind were essential accessories that combined skilled craftsmanship with the practical needs of everyday Roman life."
Details
Culture
Ancient Roman
Century/timeframe
1st - 2nd century A.D.
Name of object
Hairpin
Acquired from
Auction house
Year acquired
2026
Material
Bronze
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Private collection
Height
126 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.
