Heavy Genuine Ancient Roman (Province of Judaea) Bronze Leech-Style Bracelet With Punch Dot Design Circa 100 A.D.

  CLASSIFICATION:  Roman-Judaean Bronze Bracelet.  Mounted onto plaque or shadow box upon request (additional shipping charges apply).

  ATTRIBUTION:  Eastern Roman Empire (Judaea), 1st Century A.D.

  SIZE/MEASUREMENTS:

  Outside Diameter: 82 x 74 millimeters.

  Inside Diameter:  76 1/2 x 66 millimeters.

  Band Width:  9 millimeters at top; 3 millimeters at bottom.  Band Thickness:  8 millimeters at top; 2 millimeters at bottom. 

  Weight:  43.31 grams.

  CONDITION:  Good.  Quite substantial and well-constructed. Entirely intact and of sound integrity.  Moderate porosity (surface pitting caused by contact with earth while buried).  Professionally conserved.

   DETAIL:  A well preserved, fairly heavy Roman bronze bracelet circa 1st century A.D. from the Province of Judaea.  The style, which was also very popular in earrings, is known as a “leech” style for obvious reasons (fat in the middle, narrowed at the ends, the shape does resemble a leech).  The bracelet is fairly large and would fit a lady of slender to medium build, or a man of slender build, and with that caveat, is completely and eminently wearable.  The bracelet was recovered unbroken and intact.  As is ordinarily the case, the artifact exhibits some porosity (surface pitting caused by burial in earth).  Unlike so many smaller bronze artifacts which are completely disfigured by corrosion, this particular piece happened to come to rest in reasonably gentle soil conditions.

  The degree of porosity is relatively moderate – noticeable but not to the extent where the artifact’s integrity is adversely affected.  Of course in these photo enlargements the porosity is more pronounced – under magnification the evidence that this bracelet spent millennia buried beneath the ground unmistakable.  However to the casual viewer the porosity is not pronounced, and is easy to miss entirely.  In hand the bracelet simply appears a nicely toned bronze bracelet.  The metal surfaces are nicely finished with good luster and the rich, warm glow of ancient bronze – lightly pebbled, but not crassly so.  This specimen is in very good condition, both ends entirely intact.

  The bracelet is fairly heavy in construction, sturdy and well constructed, though the ends being much thinner are a little more fragile.  The bracelet possesses a very nice tone to it, is quite handsome, and makes a very distinctive and uncommon piece of ancient jewelry.  It is an “upmarket” style, workmanship which would be characteristic of moderately higher-end jewelry.  Although the “rich and famous” of course commissioned jewelry in silver and gold, nonetheless this is a fairly expensive piece, not the type of jewelry one would expect to find on the common Roman citizen, rather something you might find in the possession of someone of the middle classes.  It is quite solidly built, a wonderful example of early Roman jewelry, and of unimpaired integrity.

  The bracelet possesses a very nice tone to it, is quite handsome, and makes a very distinctive and uncommon piece of ancient jewelry.  Almost two thousand years after it was originally produced, it is still completely wearable, and could bring many years of wearing enjoyment to a new owner.  It is a wonderful example of early Roman jewelry, an evocative memento of the grandeur and glory which was the Roman Empire.  The Romans were very fond of jewelry and other personal adornments.  Typical jewelry included bracelets worn both on the forearm as well as upper arm, rings, brooches, pendants, earrings, hair pins, as well as decorative buckles and fibulae. 

  This is a very durable and representative example of a Roman bracelet, and it could easily be worn and enjoyed.  However if you request (follow the links below), we could mount the bracelet onto a framed display plaque (see it here), and it would make a great gift.  The plaque narrates a brief outline of the history of ancient Rome along with an image of some very famous architectural remains in Rome.  It would make a very handsome gift, for yourself or a friend, and would surely delight a son or daughter.  It would not only make a very handsome display, but would be very educational as well.  If you prefer, the bracelet could be installed within a glass-front shadow box with or without printed history (see it here).  Whether worn or displayed (perhaps on a plaque), it is an evocative and authentic “souvenir” of the Roman Empire, the greatest military power, and one of the most advanced civilizations of the ancient world. 

  HISTORY:  One of the greatest civilizations of recorded history was the ancient Roman Empire.  In exchange for a very modest amount of contemporary currency, you can possess a small part of that great civilization in the form of a 2,000 year old piece of jewelry.  The Roman civilization, in relative terms the greatest military power in the history of the world, was founded in the 8th century (B.C.).  In the 4th Century (B.C.) the Romans were the dominant power on the Italian Peninsula, having defeated the Etruscans and Celts.   In the 3rd Century (B.C.) the Romans conquered Sicily, and in the following century defeated Carthage, and controlled the Greece.  Throughout the remainder of the 2nd Century (B.C.) the Roman Empire continued its gradual conquest of the Hellenistic (Greek Colonial) World by conquering Syria and Macedonia; and finally came to control Egypt in the 1st Century (B.C.).

  The pinnacle of Roman power was achieved in the 1st Century (A.D.) as Rome conquered much of Britain and Western Europe.  For a brief time, the era of “Pax Romana”, a time of peace and consolidation reigned.  Civilian emperors were the rule, and the culture flourished with a great deal of liberty enjoyed by the average Roman Citizen.  However within 200 years the Roman Empire was in a state of steady decay, attacked by Germans, Goths, and Persians.  In the 4th Century (A.D.) the Roman Empire was split between East and West.  The Great Emperor Constantine temporarily arrested the decay of the Empire, but within a hundred years after his death the Persians captured Mesopotamia, Vandals infiltrated Gaul and Spain, and the Goths even sacked Rome itself.  Most historians date the end of the Western Roman Empire to 476 (A.D.) when Emperor Romulus Augustus was deposed.  However the Eastern Roman Empire (The Byzantine Empire) survived until the fall of Constantinople in 1453 A.D.

  At its peak, the Roman Empire stretched from Britain in the West, throughout most of Western, Central, and Eastern Europe, and into Asia Minor.  Valuables such as coins and jewelry were commonly buried for safekeeping, and inevitably these ancient citizens would succumb to one of the many perils of the ancient world.  Oftentimes the survivors of these individuals did not know where the valuables had been buried, and today, two thousand years later caches of coins and rings are still commonly uncovered throughout Europe and Asia Minor.  Roman Soldiers oftentimes came to possess large quantities of “booty” from their plunderous conquests, and routinely buried their treasure for safekeeping before they went into battle.

  If they met their end in battle, most often the whereabouts of their treasure was likewise, unknown.  Throughout history these treasures have been inadvertently discovered by farmers in their fields, uncovered by erosion, and the target of unsystematic searches by treasure seekers.  With the introduction of metal detectors and other modern technologies to Eastern Europe in the past three or four decades, an amazing number of new finds are seeing the light of day 2,000 years or more after they were originally hidden by their past owners.  And with the liberalization of post-Soviet Eastern Europe, new markets have opened eager to share in these treasures of the Roman Empire.

Domestic shipping (insured first class mail) is included in the price shown.  Domestic shipping also includes USPS Delivery Confirmation (you might be able to update the status of your shipment on-line at the USPS Web Site).  Canadian shipments are an extra $15.99 for Insured Air Mail; International shipments are an extra $19.99 for Air Mail (and generally are NOT tracked; trackable shipments are EXTRA).  ADDITIONAL PURCHASES   do receive a VERY LARGE discount, typically about $5 per item so as to reward you for the economies of combined shipping/insurance costs. Your purchase will ordinarily be shipped within 48 hours of payment.  We package as well as anyone in the business, with lots of protective padding and containers.  

We do NOT recommend uninsured shipments, and expressly disclaim any responsibility for the loss of an uninsured shipment.  Unfortunately the contents of parcels are easily “lost” or misdelivered by postal employees – even in the USA.  If you intend to pay via PayPal, please be aware that PayPal Protection Policies REQUIRE insured, trackable shipments, which is why we include insurance and a USPS Delivery Confirmation at no extra charge.  We do offer U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail, Registered Mail, and Express Mail for both international and domestic shipments, as well United Parcel Service (UPS) and Federal Express (Fed-Ex). Please ask for a rate quotation.  We will accept whatever payment method you are most comfortable with.  If upon receipt of the item you are disappointed for any reason whatever, I offer a no questions asked return policy.  Send it back, I will give you a complete refund of the purchase price (less our original shipping costs).

We travel to Russia each year seeking antique gemstones and jewelry from one of the globe’s most prolific gemstone producing and cutting centers, the area between Chelyabinsk and Yekaterinburg, Russia.  From all corners of Siberia, as well as from India, Ceylon, Burma and Siam, gemstones have for centuries gone to Yekaterinburg where they have been cut and incorporated into the fabulous jewelry for which the Czars and the royal families of Europe were famous for. My wife grew up and received a university education in the Southern Urals of Russia, just a few hours away from the mountains of Siberia, where alexandrite, diamond, emerald, sapphire, chrysoberyl, topaz, demantoid garnet, and many other rare and precious gemstones are produced.  Though perhaps difficult to find in the USA, antique gemstones are commonly unmounted from old, broken settings – the gold reused – the gemstones recut and reset. 

  Before these gorgeous antique gemstones are recut, we try to acquire the best of them in their original, antique, hand-finished state – most of them centuries old.  We believe that the work created by these long-gone master artisans is worth protecting and preserving rather than destroying this heritage of antique gemstones by recutting the original work out of existence.  That by preserving their work, in a sense, we are preserving their lives and the legacy they left for modern times.  Far better to appreciate their craft than to destroy it with modern cutting.  Not everyone agrees – fully 95% or more of the antique gemstones which come into these marketplaces are recut, and the heritage of the past lost.  But if you agree with us that the past is worth protecting, and that past lives and the produce of those lives still matters today, consider buying an antique, hand cut, natural gemstone rather than one of the mass-produced machine cut (often synthetic or “lab produced”) gemstones which dominate the market today.

    Our interest in the fabulous history of Russian gemstones and the fabulous jewelry of the Czar’s led to further education and contacts in India, Ceylon, and Siam, other ancient centers of gemstone production and finishing.  We have a number of “helpers” (family members, friends, and colleagues) in Russia and in India who act as eyes and ears for us year-round, and in reciprocity we donate a portion of our revenues to support educational institutions in Russia and India.  Occasionally while in Russia, India, Siam, and Ceylon we will also find such good buys on unique contemporary gemstones and jewelry that we will purchase a few pieces to offer to our customers here in America.  These are always offered clearly labeled as contemporary, and not antiques – just to avoid confusion.  We can set most any antique gemstone you purchase from us in your choice of styles and metals ranging from rings to pendants to earrings and bracelets; in sterling silver, 14kt solid gold, and 14kt gold fill.  When you purchase from us, you can count on quick shipping and careful, secure packaging.  We would be happy to provide you with a certificate/guarantee of authenticity for any item you purchase from me.  There is a $2 fee for mailing under separate cover.  Please see our "ADDITIONAL TERMS OF SALE."