古代ローマ人 Jasper 手はお守りになる。 - 16 mm (No reserve price)

Ancient Roman Jasper Manus Fica amulet

Culture / Period: Ancient Roman
Date / Period: 1st–2nd century A.D.
Material: Jasper
Dimensions: 16 mm
Condition: Good condition. Intact suspension perforation. The carved details, including the bracelet and characteristic hand gesture, remain visible. Attractive ancient surface wear and patina consistent with age.

No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid.

Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 179

The current owner purchased the Ancient Roman Jasper Manus Fica amulet from a private collector, N.N. in Drunen.

The previous owner, a private collector, N.N. from Drunen (the Netherlands), stated that the object had been in his collection since the 1990s.

According to the previous owner, the object had previously been in a private collection in the Netherlands since the 1980s.

No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.

Background Information:

This finely carved jasper amulet depicts a Manus Fica, one of the most recognisable protective symbols of the Roman world. The amulet takes the form of a clenched hand with the thumb placed between the index and middle fingers, a gesture widely employed throughout antiquity as a powerful safeguard against harmful influences. The carving also includes a bracelet around the wrist, a detail occasionally found on higher-quality examples and intended to enhance the realistic appearance of the miniature hand.

The Manus Fica held a significant place within Roman popular religion and everyday belief. It was primarily associated with protection against the fascinum, commonly known as the evil eye. Romans believed that envy, malice, or excessive admiration could bring misfortune, illness, or bad luck. Protective amulets such as this were therefore worn as personal talismans intended to ward off unseen dangers and attract good fortune.

Such amulets were worn by both adults and children. They could be suspended from necklaces, bracelets, or personal adornments and accompanied their owners throughout daily life. Children in particular were frequently provided with protective charms to guard them against illness and malevolent forces. In addition to its apotropaic role, the Manus Fica was also connected with fertility, vitality, and prosperity, making it one of the most enduring protective symbols of the Roman period.

The amulet is carved from jasper, a material highly valued throughout the Roman Empire. Jasper was admired not only for its attractive colours and durability but also for the protective and magical properties attributed to it in antiquity. Roman writers and lapidaries frequently associated jasper with strength, health, protection, and divine favour. For this reason, the stone was widely used for rings, amulets, engraved gems, and personal talismans.

Jasper objects circulated extensively through the Roman trade network. Raw materials and finished products moved between workshops across the Mediterranean, reaching even the most distant provinces of the Empire. The use of a carefully selected stone such as jasper reflects the importance Romans attached to both the symbolic and material qualities of personal amulets.

Dating to the 1st–2nd century A.D., this piece provides a direct and tangible connection to the beliefs and daily life of the Roman world. It illustrates how ordinary people sought protection and good fortune through personal objects, making it a remarkable survival of ancient religious practice and popular superstition.