Hairpin decorated wiht a male bust - very fine - Roman Empire, 1st - 2nd Century AD Bone 10,3 cm long Provenance: Ancient private collection, A.R., London. Acquired in the london art market in 2007. Condition: Good, see photos. Roman pins were probably used to facilitate the elaborate female hairstyles of the period. The hair would have to be twisted and coiled, to prevent the smooth pin from falling out. Examples of hair pins have been found in a wide array of materials, such as bone, bronze, glass, and stone. Most were decorative in design, occasionally boasting ornate figurative heads in the shape of animals, plants, or deities.