Ancient Roman Bone Dice (Sin Precio de Reserva)
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Current bid
€ 75
No reserve price
Expert
Selected by Ruth Garrido Vila
Directed the Ifergan Collection Museum, specialising in Phoenician and Mediterranean archaeology.
Estimate € 200 - € 250
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 Bidder 3480 | €75 | |
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Roman bone dice from a German private collection, dating to the 1st–3rd century A.D., offer a tangible link to ancient gaming and spiritual symbolism.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
ITEM: Dice
MATERIAL: Bone
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 1st - 3rd Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 9 mm x 8 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex German private collection, acquired before 1990s
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 dice made from bone offer intriguing insights into the recreational activities and gaming culture of ancient Rome. Dice games were immensely popular among people of all social classes and were played for entertainment, gambling, and even religious rituals.
Bone Roman dice typically featured six sides, each marked with dots or pips representing numbers ranging from one to six. The numbering system on Roman dice was often arranged in such a way that opposite sides of the dice added up to seven, a design feature known as "opposite faces add up to seven" or "sevens-out." This design ensured fairness and randomness in the outcome of dice rolls, crucial for maintaining the integrity of the game.
Roman dice were not only used for recreational purposes but also held cultural and symbolic significance. Dice games were often associated with concepts of luck, fate, and fortune, and were sometimes employed in divination practices to predict the outcome of future events. The imagery and symbolism associated with dice were also reflected in Roman art and literature, where dice games were depicted as common pastimes enjoyed by people from all walks of life.
Seller's Story
Your Antiquarian offers ancient art and ancient coins. Our main objective is to offer the highest quality at the best price respecting and strictly complying with the laws of heritage protection and UNESCO heritage norms. Therefore, all the pieces that are published come from private collections in which the provenance can be checked or international auctions. All our antiquities and coins are accompanied by their Certificate of Authenticity. We have a no quibble 90 day return policy. At Your Antiquarian we are committed to helping disadvantaged groups and for this reason a portion of each purchase is donated to charities to help people in need.
Translated by Google TranslateITEM: Dice
MATERIAL: Bone
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 1st - 3rd Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 9 mm x 8 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex German private collection, acquired before 1990s
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 dice made from bone offer intriguing insights into the recreational activities and gaming culture of ancient Rome. Dice games were immensely popular among people of all social classes and were played for entertainment, gambling, and even religious rituals.
Bone Roman dice typically featured six sides, each marked with dots or pips representing numbers ranging from one to six. The numbering system on Roman dice was often arranged in such a way that opposite sides of the dice added up to seven, a design feature known as "opposite faces add up to seven" or "sevens-out." This design ensured fairness and randomness in the outcome of dice rolls, crucial for maintaining the integrity of the game.
Roman dice were not only used for recreational purposes but also held cultural and symbolic significance. Dice games were often associated with concepts of luck, fate, and fortune, and were sometimes employed in divination practices to predict the outcome of future events. The imagery and symbolism associated with dice were also reflected in Roman art and literature, where dice games were depicted as common pastimes enjoyed by people from all walks of life.
Seller's Story
Your Antiquarian offers ancient art and ancient coins. Our main objective is to offer the highest quality at the best price respecting and strictly complying with the laws of heritage protection and UNESCO heritage norms. Therefore, all the pieces that are published come from private collections in which the provenance can be checked or international auctions. All our antiquities and coins are accompanied by their Certificate of Authenticity. We have a no quibble 90 day return policy. At Your Antiquarian we are committed to helping disadvantaged groups and for this reason a portion of each purchase is donated to charities to help people in need.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Culture
Ancient Roman
Century/ Timeframe
1st - 3rd Century A.D
Name of object
Dice
Acquired from
Private collection
Year acquired
2025
Material
Bone
Country acquired from
Germany
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Antique market
Previous owner - year acquired
1990
Previous owner - country acquired from
Germany
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
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.
