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Ruth Garrido Vila

ITEM: Plumb bob
MATERIAL: Bronze
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 1st - 2nd Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 40 mm x 26 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex Spanish private collection, acquired between 1980 - 1990

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export license.

If you bid outside the European Union and win the item, we will have to apply for an export licence for your country and shipping will take 3 to 5 weeks.

The Roman plumb bob, or plumbum (Latin for lead), was an essential tool in Roman engineering and construction, providing precise vertical alignment in projects ranging from building aqueducts to laying out roads and erecting monumental structures. Made typically of lead and sometimes bronze, Roman plumb bobs were designed as pointed weights suspended by string, allowing gravity to create a perfect vertical line. These tools were indispensable for Roman architects, engineers, and surveyors, who relied on them to ensure accuracy in constructing the straight, stable walls, columns, and foundations that characterize Roman architecture. Their simple yet effective design was key to achieving the technical precision that made Roman structures so durable.

The design of the Roman plumb bob was straightforward, usually comprising a cone or pear-shaped lead weight with a small hole at the top for threading the string. Despite its simplicity, the plumb bob was highly effective in aiding tasks such as aligning walls, laying out perpendicular corners, and setting columns in straight lines. Roman builders also used plumb bobs alongside leveling tools, like the groma and chorobates, to create meticulously planned layouts. Plumb bobs allowed builders to transfer points vertically across floors and heights, ensuring that elements aligned across multiple stories or rows. The Romans’ use of this tool reflects their dedication to precision, which is evident in the enduring strength and symmetry of Roman architecture.

Roman plumb bobs are found across archaeological sites throughout the former Roman Empire, indicating the widespread and standardized nature of Roman construction techniques. The durability of these lead or bronze tools has preserved them well, providing insight into the practical aspects of Roman engineering practices. Plumb bobs were likely owned by professional builders and engineers, representing a crucial part of their toolkit.

1st - 2nd Century A.D - Unknown

Ancient Roman Bronze Plumb bob. Spanish Export License.

Archaeology

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Period

1950-1960

1970-1980

Cretaceous, Lower (145 - 100.5 million years)

Tang Dynasty (618-907)

1960-1970

1990-2000

Paleogene, Eocene (56 - 33.9 million years)

1800-1850

1550-1600

1700-1750

2020+

1850-1900

Han Dynasty (206 B.C.- 220 A.D.)

Khmer Empire (Cambodia) (802-1432)

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

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1930-1940

Neogene, Pliocene (5.33 - 2.58 million years)

Jurassic, Lower (201.3 - 174.1 million years)

Jurassic (201.3 - 145 million years)

Ordovician (485.4 - 443.8 million years)

1400-1450

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2026

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Subject

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Style

Ancient Roman

Ancient Egyptian

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Bronze Age

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Ancient Roman Bronze Plumb bob. Spanish Export License.

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