"Ancient Roman Bronze Finger Ring with Protective Ring-and-Dot Ornament Culture / Period: Ancient Roman Date / Period: 1st - 2nd century A.D. Material: Bronze Dimensions: Outside diameter: 21 mm Condition: Good condition No shipping outside theopean 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 theopean Union before placing a bid. Provenance information: Object Registration ID: 844 The current owner (S.N.J. S.) purchased the Finger Ring with Protective Ring-and-Dot Ornament from R.N. in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The previous owner, R.N. from Rotterdam (the Netherlands), did not provide information regarding when the object entered the collection. According to the previous owner, no information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available. No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available. Background Information: This cast bronze finger ring dates to the 1st–2nd century AD and features a broad rectangular bezel decorated with seven ring-and-dot motifs. This geometric ornament was one of the most widespread decorative elements in the Roman provinces, appearing on jewellery, military fittings, horse harness equipment, and domestic objects throughout the Empire. Although primarily decorative, the repeated ring-and-dot pattern may also have carried an apotropaic, or protective, significance. Circular motifs symbolising the eye were widely employed in Roman material culture to ward off misfortune and the evil eye, making them especially appropriate for personal ornaments worn daily on the body. Bronze rings such as this were affordable personal possessions worn by civilians and soldiers alike. Unlike gold or silver examples reserved for the wealthiest members of society, bronze rings were accessible across a broad section of the Roman population and often served both as adornment and as expressions of personal identity. The ring was cast and carefully finished by specialised craftsmen working within the highly organised metalworking industry of the Roman Empire. Similar examples are known from settlements, forts, and towns throughout the Roman provinces, particularly in Germania Inferior, Gaul, and Britannia, reflecting the widespread popularity of this distinctive decorative style."