Description:

Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A fantastic set of four hand-carved gaming dice, crafted from the bone of a cow or another ungulate. Each die features planar sides adorned with incised concentric circles, representing numbers ranging from one to six. Dice like these served multiple purposes in the ancient world - beyond their primary role in gaming, they were also used as an impartial method for allocating goods and even for resolving personal disputes. Their presence across various cultures underscores the universality of gaming throughout history. Just imagine the ancients - perhaps Roman infantrymen - gathered around, casting these very dice to determine their fate, whether in a friendly game or a high-stakes wager. Some may have won a fortune, while others lost a month’s pay at the roll of the dice! A fascinating glimpse into the timeless human love for games of chance. Size (all about the same) Size: .375" W x .375" H (1 cm x 1 cm)

Provenance: ex-T.F. Holy Lands collection, formed since the 1960s

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#193065

  • Condition: All intact, a couple with liberal surface deposits and dots partially obscured.

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April 11, 2025 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000