{"product_id":"ancient-roman-terracotta-female-bust-roundel-1st-century-ce","title":"Ancient Roman Terracotta Female Bust Roundel | 1st Century CE","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHistorical Context \u0026amp; Origin\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRegion:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Roman World\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Mould-made terracotta\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Roman Period, 1st Century CE\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDescription\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis ancient Roman terracotta roundel dates to the 1st century CE and originally formed the central decorated element of a mould-made vessel. The piece was subsequently reworked in antiquity, preserving the principal figural decoration as an independent circular fragment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe decoration is rendered in high relief and depicts a female head and upper bust set within a circular field bordered by a raised, irregular rim. The woman has softly modelled facial features and waved hair, with what appears to be a diadem or fillet across the head. Two small ornamental projections survive at the top, while veil-like drapery frames portions of the head and upper body.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe terracotta is a pinkish-buff clay, and considerable age-related wear has softened some of the finer moulded detail. Despite this weathering, the female portrait remains clearly recognizable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeatures\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginally formed part of a decorated vessel\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFemale head and upper bust in high relief\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWaved hairstyle\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePossible diadem or fillet\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTwo small surviving ornaments above the head\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVeil-like drapery\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCircular field with raised irregular rim\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePinkish-buff terracotta fabric\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMould-made construction\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCultural Significance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMould-decorated pottery formed an important component of Roman ceramic production, allowing workshops to incorporate detailed figural and ornamental imagery into vessel surfaces.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe surviving roundel preserves the central decorative element of such a vessel, with the female bust serving as its principal visual focus. The combination of waved hair, possible head ornament, and veil-like drapery reflects the idealized female imagery common in Roman decorative art.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOf particular interest is the evidence that the roundel was \u003c\/span\u003ereworked in antiquity\u003cspan\u003e, indicating that the decorated central portion was deliberately retained or repurposed after its original vessel context had changed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAncient fragmentary condition with substantial surface wear. The moulded modelling has softened through abrasion and age, with \u003c\/span\u003epitting, mineral deposits, and localized surface losses throughout.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe raised outer rim is irregular and exhibits areas of loss and wear. The principal female head and bust remain clearly legible despite the weathered surface. Evidence of ancient reworking\u003cspan\u003e is present around the perimeter.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions (Approximate)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDiameter: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2.75 in\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaximum Depth \/ Thickness: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1 in\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAge (Approximate)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1,900–2,000 years old\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrivate collection, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Subsequently handled by A.H. Wilkens Auctions \u0026amp; Appraisals, Toronto, Ontario. Founded in 2009, A.H. Wilkens is a well-established Canadian auction house specializing in fine art, decorative arts, Asian antiques, and estate collections. The firm operates from its Toronto gallery and serves both Canadian and international collectors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe piece was later examined by Luca Salvaggio, an Italian archaeologist and specialist in ancient Mediterranean material. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma from the Italian Archaeological School at Athens (IASA) and is accredited for preventive archaeology by the Italian Ministry of Culture (MiC). Salvaggio identified the object as a Roman mould-decorated terracotta roundel dating to the 1st century CE, originally forming the central decorated element of a vessel and subsequently reworked in antiquity. His assessment was based on the mould-made high-relief female bust, waved hair, possible diadem or fillet, veil-like drapery, pinkish-buff clay, and circular raised rim. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLearn More\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eView a related Hellenistic terracotta medallion with a veiled female bust in the collection of the \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/collections.louvre.fr\/en\/ark:\/53355\/cl010283469\" title=\"Hellenistic Terracotta Female Bust Medallion – Louvre Museum\"\u003eLouvre Museum\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDiscover our \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/relicandrarity.com\/collections\/roman-greek-artifacts-ancient-relics\" title=\"Roman and Greek Artifacts – Relic \u0026amp; Rarity\"\u003eCollection of Roman \u0026amp; Greek Artifacts\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Relic \u0026 Rarity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56180201455938,"sku":null,"price":700.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0955\/1803\/2194\/files\/Hellenistic-Greek-Terracotta-Female-Bust-Meda-2018.jpg?v=1791247842","url":"https:\/\/relicandrarity.com\/es\/products\/ancient-roman-terracotta-female-bust-roundel-1st-century-ce","provider":"Relic \u0026 Rarity","version":"1.0","type":"link"}