Late Roman Bronze Roundel with a Man in Relief

$1,199.81

A late Roman bronze-cast phalera with a tang on the reverse. This was likely the disk worn on the breastplate of a soldier, or alternatively formed part of a chariot fitting. The disk features a relief bust of a man, who is frontally depicted with arms stretched forward to hold the reins. He wears a headpiece and a long-sleeved dress, with engraved details such as the eyes, mouth, nose, headpiece, and dress.

Date: Circa 5th - 6th Century AD
Condition: Fine condition. The left side of the roundel is missing, a fine brown green patina and signs of ageing visible on the surface and along the edges.

In stock

Bronze objects were ubiquitous in the Roman world, being used by the Roman army, for instance, for both practical and decorative purposes. The phalera is the sculpted disk (usually made of bronze) on the breastplate, which was worn by Roman soldiers as a reward for outstanding contribution, or as a signifier of military rank.

Weight 435 g
Dimensions L 7 x W 9 x H 7 cm
Culture

Metal

Region

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