Ancient Roman, Empire Bone 手の形をした飾り先端を備えた、古代ローマの骨製髪飾りピン

Ancient Roman Bone Hairpin with Hand-Shaped Finial
Roman Imperial Period, circa 1st–3rd century AD

Material: Bone
Weight: 3.3 g
Dimensions: 132 mm long; maximum width 6.4 mm; minimum thickness 1.3 mm

From a Private European Collection.

An exceptionally attractive and rare Ancient Roman bone hairpin distinguished by its finely carved hand-shaped finial, dating to the Roman Imperial Period.

The elegant pin is fashioned from a single piece of bone and displays a remarkably long and slender form, gradually tapering towards its pointed end. The smooth proportions of the shaft contrast beautifully with the much more elaborate upper section, where the ancient craftsman transformed the bone into a miniature human hand.

Particularly striking is the delicate openwork carving of the hand, creating an elegant opening within the figural terminal. Immediately beneath the hand are two carefully executed circumferential grooves, forming a decorative collar and providing a sophisticated transition between the figural finial and the long polished shaft.

A rare form of Roman personal adornment:

Bone hairpins were an important part of female personal adornment throughout the Roman world. Known as acus crinalis or acus discriminalis, they were used for arranging and securing the elaborate hairstyles fashionable during the Imperial period.

While simple Roman bone pins survive in considerable numbers, figural examples represent a much more distinctive and desirable category of Roman bone craftsmanship. Human hands belong to the fascinating repertoire of figural terminals employed by Roman craftsmen and transform an otherwise utilitarian object into a highly individual piece of personal ornament.

Closely related Roman bone hairpins terminating in carved human hands are preserved in important museum collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the London Museum. Particularly interesting parallels show the same combination of an elongated tapering shaft and a carefully worked hand-shaped terminal.

The unusually delicate openwork treatment visible on the present example further emphasizes the considerable skill required to produce such an object: the craftsman had to carve the individual elements from a very narrow piece of bone while maintaining the structural integrity of the finial.

An intimate object from everyday Roman life:

Unlike monumental sculpture or official coinage, personal objects such as this offer a remarkably direct connection with their ancient owners. Almost two thousand years ago, a pin of this type would have formed part of the daily ritual of dressing and arranging the hair.

Its elegant proportions, rare hand-shaped figural terminal, decorative carved rings and beautifully aged natural bone surface make this an appealing example of Roman personal adornment and a highly interesting addition to a collection of Ancient Roman artefacts.

Condition: Very good ancient condition. The long, slender shaft and pointed end are preserved, with an attractive natural bone coloration and ancient surface. The hand-shaped figural finial remains clearly recognizable.

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