Ancient Roman Bronze Exquisite Female Head Pendant – PUELLA – Remarkable Portrait & Magnificent (No reserve price)

Small treasures bearing the traces of history

Exquisite Ancient Roman Bronze Female Head Pendant – PUELLA – Remarkable Portrait & Magnificent Patina

Description
This exquisite bronze pendant presents a distinctive miniature female head, characterised by prominent circular eyes, a carefully defined nose, delicately modelled lips and stylised strands of hair framing the face.

The composition recalls the tradition of female portraiture in Roman decorative metalwork. The Latin term Puella, meaning young girl, provides an evocative literary theme for this intimate sculptural representation.

Comparable Roman bronze head pendants are represented in the British Museum, while female portrait ornaments documented by TimeLine Auctions illustrate related miniature metalworking traditions.

The pendant's substantial integral suspension loop and deeply modelled facial features create a particularly expressive three-dimensional composition.

Its magnificent olive-green and dark-brown patina, enriched by contrasting golden-earth mineral deposits, preserves the individual character of its sculptural surfaces.

An impressive collector's piece combining evocative Roman portrait traditions, distinctive craftsmanship and remarkable archaeological aesthetics.

Object Type: Female Head Pendant / Anthropomorphic Amulet
Culture: Ancient Roman
Period: Roman Imperial Tradition
Date : ca. 1st–4th Century AD
Material: Metal Alloy, Probably Bronze
Technique: Cast, Modelled Relief and Linear Decoration
Form: Three-Dimensional Female Head with Integral Suspension Loop
Decoration: Prominent Eyes, Stylised Hair, Frontal Facial Features and Linear Detailing
Iconographic Context: Puella – Latin for Young Girl; Female Portraiture in Roman Art
Condition: Principal sculptural features and suspension loop preserved, with magnificent multicoloured patination.

Dimensions:
Height: 22.79 mm ±
Width: 17.40 mm ±
Depth: 7.50 mm ±
Weight: 8.83 g

Note

★ Please consult the measurements to appreciate the piece’s actual size. Photographic framing can make objects of different dimensions appear similar in size.

Buyers wishing to receive a printed Cultural and Iconographic Assessment Certificate may submit their request before shipment. Every shipment is dispatched with full insurance coverage. Differences in shipping charges for certain countries reflect the country-specific costs of this insured service. Warm, museum-inspired lighting was chosen to bring out the object’s surface texture, form, craftsmanship and historic character naturally. Suspension cords and other display accessories visible in the photographs complement the presentation and are not included in the sale.

Information

Surface details have been documented using high-resolution equipment. The object’s form and structural integrity have been preserved, with photographic adjustments limited to minor colour balancing.

Museum-standard technical photographs may be supplied to interested collectors during the auction. If requested before shipment, an expert assessment report and a signed ownership document prepared in the buyer’s name can be provided in PDF format within 3–5 business days.

When identifying an archaeological object, experienced museum specialists and archaeologists consider its known find context, material, form and symbols alongside museum examples and academic research; appropriate advanced laboratory examinations can provide additional scientific insight into specific questions concerning material, manufacture and dating.

The stated period, original function, symbolic meaning and material reflect academic assessments supported by typological comparisons and expert opinions. Advanced scientific analyses are separate examinations conducted beyond the scope of the sale.

Scholarly consistency, transparent communication and good faith guide every presentation; no object is knowingly offered as a copy or imitation.