Ancient Roman Cast Bronze Bell | 1st Century CE

Provenance & Ownership History
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Formerly part of the private collection of David Van Vleck Jr., Brooklyn, New York, USA, a longtime collector whose holdings included classical antiquities, ancient coins, and small works in bronze. Acquired by the collector during the 1990s and subsequently handled by Palmyra Heritage Gallery, New York, New York, USA. The piece later entered a private collection in North York, Ontario, Canada.

Expert Assessment: Examined by Luca Salvaggio, an Italian archaeologist specializing in ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern material, with a Postgraduate Diploma from the Italian Archaeological School at Athens (IASA) and accreditation from the Italian Ministry of Culture (MiC). He identified the object as a Roman cast bronze bell dating to the 1st century CE, based on its conical body, horizontal groove, flaring lower section, hexagonal suspension loop, circular opening, and characteristic green-brown patina. He further noted that its form is comparable to bells found at Pompeii and Herculaneum.

$400.00
$400.00
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Ancient Roman cast bronze bell dating to the 1st century CE, with a conical body, hexagonal suspension loop, green-brown patina, and modern display stand.
Video of an ancient Roman cast bronze bell dating to the 1st century CE, featuring a conical body, horizontal groove, flaring lower section, hexagonal suspension loop, circular opening, and green-brown archaeological patina.
Roman bronze bell from the 1st century CE featuring a flaring lower section, horizontal groove, and hexagonal suspension loop.
Ancient Roman cast bronze bell with textured green-brown archaeological patina, orange corrosion, and mineral deposits.
First-century Roman bronze bell featuring a conical body, rounded upper section, flaring lower portion, and cast metal construction.
Detailed photograph of Roman bronze bell with worn surface and intact suspension loop.
Ancient Roman bronze bell displaying a horizontal body groove, archaeological patina, and weathered bronze surface.
Ancient Roman bronze bell with a hexagonal suspension loop, circular hanging hole, and distinctive conical body.
Roman cast bronze bell with green-brown patina, light-green corrosion, and orange oxidation deposits.
Ancient Roman bronze bell with a compact conical body, flaring rim, and preserved suspension loop, dating to the 1st century CE.
  • Ancient Roman cast bronze bell dating to the 1st century CE, with a conical body, hexagonal suspension loop, green-brown patina, and modern display stand.
  • Video of an ancient Roman cast bronze bell dating to the 1st century CE, featuring a conical body, horizontal groove, flaring lower section, hexagonal suspension loop, circular opening, and green-brown archaeological patina.
  • Roman bronze bell from the 1st century CE featuring a flaring lower section, horizontal groove, and hexagonal suspension loop.
  • Ancient Roman cast bronze bell with textured green-brown archaeological patina, orange corrosion, and mineral deposits.
  • First-century Roman bronze bell featuring a conical body, rounded upper section, flaring lower portion, and cast metal construction.
  • Detailed photograph of Roman bronze bell with worn surface and intact suspension loop.
  • Ancient Roman bronze bell displaying a horizontal body groove, archaeological patina, and weathered bronze surface.
  • Ancient Roman bronze bell with a hexagonal suspension loop, circular hanging hole, and distinctive conical body.
  • Roman cast bronze bell with green-brown patina, light-green corrosion, and orange oxidation deposits.
  • Ancient Roman bronze bell with a compact conical body, flaring rim, and preserved suspension loop, dating to the 1st century CE.
Ancient Roman cast bronze bell dating to the 1st century CE, with a conical body, hexagonal suspension loop, green-brown patina, and modern display stand.
Video of an ancient Roman cast bronze bell dating to the 1st century CE, featuring a conical body, horizontal groove, flaring lower section, hexagonal suspension loop, circular opening, and green-brown archaeological patina.
Roman bronze bell from the 1st century CE featuring a flaring lower section, horizontal groove, and hexagonal suspension loop.
Ancient Roman cast bronze bell with textured green-brown archaeological patina, orange corrosion, and mineral deposits.
First-century Roman bronze bell featuring a conical body, rounded upper section, flaring lower portion, and cast metal construction.
Detailed photograph of Roman bronze bell with worn surface and intact suspension loop.
Ancient Roman bronze bell displaying a horizontal body groove, archaeological patina, and weathered bronze surface.
Ancient Roman bronze bell with a hexagonal suspension loop, circular hanging hole, and distinctive conical body.
Roman cast bronze bell with green-brown patina, light-green corrosion, and orange oxidation deposits.
Ancient Roman bronze bell with a compact conical body, flaring rim, and preserved suspension loop, dating to the 1st century CE.
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Ancient Roman Cast Bronze Bell | 1st Century CE

Description
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Historical Context & Origin

Region: Roman Empire
Material: Cast bronze
Period: 1st Century CE

Description

This ancient Roman cast bronze bell dates to the 1st century CE and belongs to a type known from Roman sites including Pompeii and Herculaneum.

The bell has a compact conical body, divided by a horizontal groove into a rounded upper section and a flaring lower portion. At the top is a distinctive hexagonal-outline suspension loop with a circular opening, allowing the bell to be hung or attached.

The bronze surface displays a naturally developed green-brown patina with areas of orange and light-green corrosion, reflecting its considerable antiquity.

Features

- Conical body with flaring lower section

- Horizontal groove dividing the body

- Hexagonal suspension loop

- Circular suspension hole

- Green-brown archaeological patina

- Orange and light-green corrosion deposits

- Mounted on a modern display stand

Cultural Significance

Small bronze bells were used in a variety of contexts throughout the Roman world and could be suspended from objects, fittings, harnesses, or other attachments.

Examples of this general form are known from Roman archaeological contexts, including Pompeii and Herculaneum, providing useful parallels for the form and 1st-century CE dating of this example. Without a documented excavation context, its precise original use cannot be determined with certainty.

Condition

The bell remains substantially intact, with the suspension loop well preserved. The surface exhibits green-brown patination with orange and light-green corrosion. Minor corrosion and small losses along the lip are present, consistent with age and archaeological preservation.

Dimensions (Approximate)

Height: 1.75 in
Width: 1.5 in

Age (Approximate)

1,900–2,000 years old

Provenance

Formerly part of the private collection of David Van Vleck Jr., Brooklyn, New York, USA, a longtime collector whose holdings included classical antiquities, ancient coins, and small works in bronze. Acquired by the collector during the 1990s and subsequently handled by Palmyra Heritage Gallery, New York, New York, USA. The piece later entered a private collection in North York, Ontario, Canada.

Expert Assessment: Examined by Luca Salvaggio, an Italian archaeologist specializing in ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern material, with a Postgraduate Diploma from the Italian Archaeological School at Athens (IASA) and accreditation from the Italian Ministry of Culture (MiC). He identified the object as a Roman cast bronze bell dating to the 1st century CE, based on its conical body, horizontal groove, flaring lower section, hexagonal suspension loop, circular opening, and characteristic green-brown patina. He further noted that its form is comparable to bells found at Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Learn More

Explore a related 1st-century CE Roman bronze bell in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Browse our collection of Roman & Greek Artifacts & Ancient Relics.

Description

Historical Context & Origin

Region: Roman Empire
Material: Cast bronze
Period: 1st Century CE

Description

This ancient Roman cast bronze bell dates to the 1st century CE and belongs to a type known from Roman sites including Pompeii and Herculaneum.

The bell has a compact conical body, divided by a horizontal groove into a rounded upper section and a flaring lower portion. At the top is a distinctive hexagonal-outline suspension loop with a circular opening, allowing the bell to be hung or attached.

The bronze surface displays a naturally developed green-brown patina with areas of orange and light-green corrosion, reflecting its considerable antiquity.

Features

- Conical body with flaring lower section

- Horizontal groove dividing the body

- Hexagonal suspension loop

- Circular suspension hole

- Green-brown archaeological patina

- Orange and light-green corrosion deposits

- Mounted on a modern display stand

Cultural Significance

Small bronze bells were used in a variety of contexts throughout the Roman world and could be suspended from objects, fittings, harnesses, or other attachments.

Examples of this general form are known from Roman archaeological contexts, including Pompeii and Herculaneum, providing useful parallels for the form and 1st-century CE dating of this example. Without a documented excavation context, its precise original use cannot be determined with certainty.

Condition

The bell remains substantially intact, with the suspension loop well preserved. The surface exhibits green-brown patination with orange and light-green corrosion. Minor corrosion and small losses along the lip are present, consistent with age and archaeological preservation.

Dimensions (Approximate)

Height: 1.75 in
Width: 1.5 in

Age (Approximate)

1,900–2,000 years old

Provenance

Formerly part of the private collection of David Van Vleck Jr., Brooklyn, New York, USA, a longtime collector whose holdings included classical antiquities, ancient coins, and small works in bronze. Acquired by the collector during the 1990s and subsequently handled by Palmyra Heritage Gallery, New York, New York, USA. The piece later entered a private collection in North York, Ontario, Canada.

Expert Assessment: Examined by Luca Salvaggio, an Italian archaeologist specializing in ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern material, with a Postgraduate Diploma from the Italian Archaeological School at Athens (IASA) and accreditation from the Italian Ministry of Culture (MiC). He identified the object as a Roman cast bronze bell dating to the 1st century CE, based on its conical body, horizontal groove, flaring lower section, hexagonal suspension loop, circular opening, and characteristic green-brown patina. He further noted that its form is comparable to bells found at Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Learn More

Explore a related 1st-century CE Roman bronze bell in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Browse our collection of Roman & Greek Artifacts & Ancient Relics.

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