Lot 559
Roman, Imperial period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A charming and tactile pair of Roman gaming dice, hand carved from the bone of a cow or another ungulate and worn smooth by centuries of handling. Compact and cubic in form, each die displays carefully flattened faces incised with concentric circles indicating numbers one through six, arranged in the standard Roman convention. The warm, honeyed tone of the bone is mottled with darker inclusions and fine surface wear, offering quiet evidence of age and use. The incised pips are simple yet deliberate, emphasizing clarity and balance rather than ornament. These dice were practical objects, made to be grasped, tossed, and read at a glance. Size (both about the same): 0.5" L x 0.5" W x 0.5" H (1.3 cm x 1.3 cm x 1.3 cm)
In the Roman world, dice were ubiquitous. They were used for gambling, board games, divination, and even as impartial tools for allocating goods or resolving disputes. Literary sources and archaeological finds alike attest to their presence in taverns, homes, military camps, and burial contexts. Dice capture a more intimate side of Roman life, where chance, skill, and superstition mingled freely. Humble in material yet rich in cultural resonance, this pair of dice offers a vivid connection to everyday moments of leisure and decision making in the ancient world, reminding us that the thrill of the roll is as old as civilization itself.
Provenance: private London collection, United Kingdom; ex-private Ancient Art collection, United Kingdom, acquired 1990s
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#200928
- Condition: Nicks, abrasions, and ossification to bone as shown, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, both are intact and excellent with clear markings and rich patinas to surface.
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