136 - Bronze seal. Rome, 1st–3rd centuries AD.

Bronze seal. Rome, 1st–3rd centuries AD. Bronze with an oxidation patina. Provenance: Family bequest of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló. Archaeological collection assembled beginning in the 1950s by successive generations of the family through purchases at European galleries and auction houses. Measurements: 7.5 x 1 cm. Bronze seal attributed to the Roman period, consisting of a long handle with an abaluster-style profile, featuring a fusiform widening in its central section, an intermediate annular molding, and a bifurcated tip. At the opposite end, it features a circular die decorated with a reticulated geometric motif, composed of intersecting lines forming a grid. The surface displays a patina of ochre and dark tones. Bronze seals were used in the Roman world to imprint marks on various materials, in connection with practices of identification, ownership, and control of goods. The geometric decoration of this specimen’s die represents a simple ornamental design, while the shape of the handle facilitates its grip and handling.