Ancient Roman Bronze Ring with a Stylised Vulva, symbol of Fertility - 18 mm

"Ancient Roman Bronze Ring with Stylised Fertility Motif Culture / Period: Ancient Roman Date / Period: 2nd–3rd century A.D. Material: Bronze Dimensions: 18 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: 668 The current owner purchased the Ancient Roman bronze ring with stylised fertility motif from a private collector, N.N. The previous owner, a private collector, N.N. from 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 1990s. No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner. Background Information: This cast bronze finger ring features an oval bezel engraved with a stylised vulva motif surrounded by raised circular elements. In the Roman world, representations of the vulva formed part of a broader tradition of fertility and apotropaic symbolism, intended to promote prosperity, safeguard the wearer, and protect against misfortune and the evil eye. Symbols associated with fertility and generation were deeply embedded in Roman religious and everyday life. Alongside phallic imagery, stylised representations of the vulva appeared on jewellery, amulets, and domestic objects, where they were believed to possess protective as well as life-affirming qualities. Such motifs reflected ancient beliefs in the power of symbolic imagery rather than serving merely as decoration. The ring was produced by skilled Roman bronze workers using established casting techniques, with the bezel decoration incorporated into the design and refined after casting. Comparable examples have been recovered from settlements, military sites, villas, and urban centres throughout the Roman Empire, demonstrating the widespread use of symbolic jewellery across many provinces."

Estimate:£177.41

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