Interiors & Decorations

Jewellery & Precious Stones

Watches, Pens & Lighters

Fashion

Coins & Stamps

Comics & Animation

Classic Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia

Wine, Whisky & Spirits

Asian & Tribal Art

Trading Cards

Toys & Models

Archaeology & Natural History

Sports

Music, Movies & Cameras

Books & Historical Memorabilia

The finest objects brought to you by {name}

Ruth Garrido Vila

ITEM: Votive dedication plaque
MATERIAL: Bronze
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 2nd - 3rd Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 23 mm x 58 mm x 10 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex German 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.

Roman votive plaques were offerings made to the gods as acts of devotion, gratitude, or supplication. These dedications, known as ex voto offerings, were typically made in fulfillment of a vow (votum) and placed in temples, shrines, or sacred spaces. Votive plaques could be crafted from various materials, including bronze, terracotta, marble, and even wood, and they often bore inscriptions detailing the reason for the offering. Many plaques depicted images of deities, body parts (symbolizing healing requests), or scenes related to the supplicant’s prayers. Such dedications were an essential part of Roman religious life, reflecting personal and communal expressions of faith.

These plaques often served medical, military, and personal purposes. Individuals who had recovered from illness might dedicate a plaque featuring a sculpted relief of the healed body part as a gesture of thanks to a healing deity such as Aesculapius or Apollo. Soldiers and officials frequently left plaques honoring Mars, Jupiter, or Mithras after surviving battles or achieving victories. Likewise, traders and sailors dedicated plaques to Neptune or Mercury, seeking safe passage and commercial success. The inscriptions on these plaques, usually in Latin, provide valuable insights into the lives of ordinary Romans, revealing details about professions, social status, and personal concerns.

Votive plaques were an enduring tradition throughout the Roman world, found in Italy, Gaul, Britannia, and the provinces of the eastern Mediterranean. Over time, the practice evolved, with early Christian communities adopting similar forms of votive dedication, replacing pagan gods with saints. Many Roman plaques have been discovered in archaeological excavations, helping scholars reconstruct aspects of Roman religious practices and popular devotion. Today, these artifacts are displayed in museums, offering a tangible connection to the everyday spirituality of the ancient world.

2nd - 3rd Century A.D

Ancient Roman, Empire Bronze Votive dedication plaque.

Archaeology

Reserve price

No reserve price

Buy now

Budget

From

Closing date

today

Sunday

Saturday

Tuesday

30 May

31 May

tomorrow

Location

The Netherlands

Belgium

Spain

Austria

Germany

France

United Kingdom

Italy

Poland

Hong Kong

Denmark

Czech Republic

Lithuania

United States

Portugal

Switzerland

Taiwan

Size

XS (under 10 cm)

S (10–40 cm)

M (40–80 cm)

L (over 80 cm)

Dimensions

Height

Width

Depth

Object

Raw mineral

Ancient jewellery and beads

Ancient artwork

Ring

Arrow head

Carved mineral

Taxidermy full body mount

Ancient sculptures carvings and figurines

Pendant

Coin pendant

Figure

Fossil fragment

Ancient tools

Dice

Amulet

Cross

Bowl

Vase

Metaphysical stones

Ancient vessels

Sea shell

Sculpture

Skeleton

Country of origin

Netherlands

Europe

Unknown

Thailand

China

Cambodia

Asia

Myanmar/Burma

Laos

Madagascar

Hungary

Africa

Nepal

Bangladesh

Brazil

Vietnam

Material

Bronze

Terracotta

Silver

Glass

Faience

Ceramic

Flint

Pottery

Lead

Iron

Marble

Bone

Gold

Alabaster

Stoneware

Wood

Jasper

Schist

Stone

Steatite

Brass

Pewter

Iron (cast/wrought)

Gilded Bronze

Quartzite

Condition

Good

Excellent

Very good

Very good +

Good condition - used with some signs of wear

Good condition

Fair

Very good condition - slightly used with small signs of wear

Poor

Natural

Excellent condition - barely used with minimal signs of wear

Excellent condition: barely used with minimal signs of wear

Good condition - used with small signs of aging & blemishes

Fair condition -  heavily used & with possibly minor parts missing

Good condition - used with small signs of ageing

As new - unused

Enhanced

Used but like new

Hand carved

Period

Cretaceous, Lower (145 - 100.5 million years)

Tang Dynasty (618-907)

Paleogene, Eocene (56 - 33.9 million years)

Devonian, Middle (393.3 - 382.7 million years)

Devonian (419.2 - 358.9 million years)

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

Neogene, Miocene (23.03 - 5.33 million years)

1700-1750

2010-2020

2020+

2024

1850-1900

Certification

Non-CITES species

CITES Appendix II - Annex B in the EU

Subject

Religion

Style

Ancient Roman

Ancient Egyptian

Medieval, Crusaders Era

Ancient Roman, Empire

Bronze Age

Viking Era

Ancient Greek, Hellenistic

Late Roman/Early Byzantine

Neolithic

Ancient Greek

Ancient Chinese

Celtic

Paleolithic

Medieval

Ancient Egypt, Late Period

Bactrian

Byzantine

Post-medieval

Mesopotamian

Ancient Egypt, Greco–Roman Period

Islamic

Ancient Egypt, Ptolemaic

Scythian

Ancient Greek, Magna Graecia

Gandhara

Signature

Not signed

Colour

Green

Grey

Multicolour

Mineral

Labradorite

Mineral form

Archaeology

This object is no longer available, but there’s still lots to explore

Ancient Roman, Empire Bronze Votive dedication plaque.

Popular in Archaeology

1311 objects

Related collections