Lot 155a, Auction 4/20/2026: Pair of Roman Bronze and Lead Enamel Brooches

$325.00

In stock

Roman, Imperial period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A vibrant pair of circular Roman brooches, each cast in bronze and delicately inlaid with lead-based enamel. Both pieces display concentric geometric decoration, the surfaces divided into recessed cells filled with opaque enamels in shades of turquoise, red, green, and ivory – colors that once shimmered brightly against the bronze ground. The larger brooch is pierced at intervals along its perimeter, suggesting attachment to clothing or perhaps to a leather strap, while the smaller piece retains a central boss and radial segmentation reminiscent of a wheel motif, a design long associated with protection and solar symbolism in Roman decorative art. Brooches of this kind were more than simple fasteners; they were emblems of identity and status, worn by men and women alike across the Roman provinces. Size of larger: 1.25″ Diameter (3.2 cm)

The use of lead enamel – a material that allowed for richer hues and greater translucency – reflects the high craftsmanship of provincial Roman metalworkers, who adapted classical designs with regional flair. Together, these two brooches form an elegant testament to the technical and aesthetic sophistication of Roman personal adornment, their timeworn patina and surviving enamel offering a glimpse of ancient color and style preserved through the centuries.

Condition: Losses and chipping to enamel on both. Missing backings. Rich patina throughout.

Provenance: private Dayton, Maryland, USA collection; ex-private F. B. collection, Maryland, USA, acquired between 1990 to 2010

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all purchases.

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