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LOT 0692
Roman Bronze and Bone Knuckle-Bones Gaming Piece Group
CIRCA 1ST-4TH CENTURY A.D.
1 1/4 - 1 3/8 in. (80 grams total, 31-35 mm).
Group comprising: two bone astragali smoothed for use as gaming pieces; bronze model of the same. [3, No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000.
From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.
Cf. similar in the British Museum under accession no.1772,0311.176.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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Roman Bronze Bear-Head Dagger Pommel
1st-2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Hollow-formed with acute lower jaw, triangular muzzle, gusset and rounded rim to the socket-mouth. 29.5 grams, 44 mm
Property of a Gloucestershire, UK, collector. Property of an East Sussex, UK, gentleman. -
Roman Bronze Statue Arm
1st-3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
Right arm from a small statue of a female with long, slender fingers; socket to the upper end; the thumb and forefinger closed. 58 grams, 62 mm
Private collection of Mr S.A., Switzerland, 1990s, thence by descent. -
Romano-British Bronze Military 'Caister Fort' Gaming Dice with Mystical Symbols
Circa 1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £546
Cuboid die with five sides bearing incised symbols: ring-and-dot (or theta Θ), 'IV' (for 'four'), saltire (or 'X' for 'ten'), frond with four spurs to each side, similar with one spur to each side. 4.5 grams, 8.7 mm
Found by the Roman fort at Caister, east of Norwich, Norfolk, UK, prior to 1998. Acquired from Richard Gladdle, 9th June 1998. From the important private collection of dice and gaming pieces of Colin Narbeth, London, UK, collection no.42. Accompanied by a Colin Narbeth catalogue identification card. Accompanied by a copy of the relevant Celtic & Roman Artefacts book pages where this object is published.
The conventional Roman dice were made in bone or lead, with dots representing numbers from 1 to 6. Roman dice from the Romano-British settlements are often poorly made and often had opposite sides that do not add up to 7. This dice is unique in the panorama of the Romano-British dice, because the symbols probably represent an alternative to the simple numerical dimples which appear on most dices.
