Ancient Roman Bronze Ring depicting an animal (No Reserve Price)

ITEM: Ring depicting an animal
MATERIAL: Bronze
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 1st - 3rd Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 22 mm x 24 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 rings served three primary functions: as markers of social status, personal identifiers for official use, and purely as adornment. In the early Roman Republic, a plain iron ring (anulus ferreus) was worn by freeborn male citizens as a simple symbol of status. Over time, the right to wear the more prestigious gold ring (ius anuli aurei) became a distinct privilege reserved initially for senators, and later extended to members of the equestrian order (equites). This distinction made the material of the ring a clear, visible indicator of a man's rank and wealth. The most functional type was the signet ring, or seal ring, which featured a carved device—an intaglio—on a metal bezel or, more commonly, a set gemstone. This engraved design, often depicting a portrait, a mythological figure, or a personal symbol , was pressed into hot wax to seal documents, signifying the wearer's authentic identity and authority, much like a signature today.

The style and material of Roman rings evolved significantly with the growth of the Empire. While the earliest rings were simple iron or bronze, the influx of wealth from conquests and trade routes made gold and imported gemstones (such as garnet, carnelian, agate, and amethyst) widely available. This led to a trend toward increasingly luxurious and ornate designs, particularly from the 1st century CE onward. Rings became heavier, incorporating larger gemstones, and Roman writers often satirized the newly rich who conspicuously wore multiple, heavy rings on every finger. Techniques like pierced openwork (opus interrasile) and the use of diverse stone carvings demonstrated the high level of skill achieved by Roman jewelers, contrasting sharply with the austerity of the early Republic.

Beyond status and official use, rings held significant sentimental and protective meaning for the Romans. They are widely credited with popularizing the concept of the betrothal or wedding ring, which was given to the bride as a symbol of the binding legal and economic contract of marriage. Early Roman betrothal rings were often simple iron bands, sometimes featuring a key motif to symbolize the wife's authority over the household property. Later styles, known as Fede rings (fede meaning 'faith'), depicted two clasped hands (dextrarum iunctio) to symbolize agreement, fidelity, and the couple’s union. Furthermore, many rings, particularly those set with specific gemstones or carved with symbols like the Serpent (for protection and renewal) or the Dolphin (for good fortune), were worn as amulets to ward off evil or ensure the wearer's well-being.