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All auctions / Ancient Art / Ancient Roman Bronze Ring with a Stylised Vulva, symbol of Fertility - 21 mm


"Ancient Roman Bronze Ring with Stylised Fertility Motif Culture / Period: Ancient Roman Date / Period: 2nd–3rd century A.D. Material: Bronze Dimensions: 21 mm Condition: Good condition 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: 662 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, a symbolic representation associated in the Roman world with fertility, protection, femininity, and the generative forces of nature. Such imagery formed part of a wider tradition of apotropaic symbols believed to promote prosperity, safeguard the wearer, and ward off misfortune. Roman society frequently employed fertility-related imagery in jewellery, household objects, and personal amulets. Alongside representations of the phallus, the vulva was regarded as a powerful protective symbol whose significance extended beyond sexuality into the realms of health, abundance, and divine favour. Rings bearing such motifs were worn as personal ornaments while also serving an amuletic function. The ring was produced by skilled Roman bronze workers using established casting techniques, after which the bezel was engraved with the symbolic design. Comparable rings and amuletic objects have been recovered from settlements, military sites, villas, and urban centres throughout the Roman Empire, demonstrating the widespread popularity of protective and fertility symbolism across many provinces."} } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } √
Estimate:£178.13
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Estimate:
£178.13

OCT 8 | 3:00 PM

OCT 8 | 3:00 PM

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