Roman Leaded Bronze Seal Box w/ Ram Head & Lion

**Originally Listed At $200**

Roman, Late Imperial to Byzantine Period, ca. late 4th to early 8th century CE. An impressive leaded bronze seal box featuring a slightly triangular form and a hinge at the top connecting 2 sides: the thinner lid of the box and the thicker bottom. The lid is adorned with the head of a ram in high relief. The ancient animal exhibits a pair of curled and striped horns, a lengthy snout, and target-motif eyes. The thicker side presents a flat face with the relief image of a panther, shown curled up in repose and displaying a spotted and striped body, a long tail, and a sizeable head flanked by petaloid ears and topped with a pair of pointed horns, as panthers were frequently depicted with horns in the late Roman to Medieval period. A fabulous and fascinating example from ancient Rome! Size: 1.375" L x 1.25" H (3.5 cm x 3.2 cm)

By Roman times, the ram was already an ancient (with respect to the Romans) symbol of virility and masculinity, and Mercury (Greek Hermes), the god of commerce and communication, was often accompanied by a ram to symbolize fertility. Conversely, the panther was associated with Bacchus (Greek Dionysus), the god of wine and drunken revelry.

Provenance: ex-Estate of Eldert Bontekoe, Pegasi Numismatics, Ann Arbor, Michigan USA acquired before 2000

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 winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#158724
Condition Report: Top lid is broken off from upper hinge. Missing chain. Some abrasions and softening of detail, commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent with lovely patina.