Romano-British Enamelled Bronze 'VITA VENI' Knee Brooch

1ST CENTURY A.D.

1 1/2 in. (20.6 grams, 39 mm).

With cylindrical transverse headplate, scoped profile to the bow, catch to the reverse; shallow enamelled cells with reserved 'VITA VENI' legend translating to: '(My) life, come (to me)', since the Romans used the word uita ('life') as a term of endearment – Cicero, for example, when writing to his wife, calls her mea uita ('my life'), equivalent to 'darling'.

Provenance

Found Suffolk, UK.
From an East Anglian private collection.

Literature

Cf. Bayley, J. & Butcher, S., Roman Brooches in Britain: A Technological and Typological Study based on the Richborough Collection, London, 2004, item 244, for type.

CONDITION

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LOT 0685