Lot 147D
Roman Empire, ca. 1stâ3rd Century CE. Charming pair bone dolls, each rendered in stylized anthropomorphic form with articulated shoulders and incised detailing to suggest draped garments. The figures feature elongated torsos, abstract facial features, and jointed armsâlikely once strung or pinned for movement, consistent with known Roman doll construction.
Roman bone dolls such as these were beloved toys, especially for girls from elite households, and are often found in burials, sometimes alongside miniature items like combs, mirrors, or jewelry. While used in play, they also held symbolic significanceâpossibly acting as ritual objects marking transitions from childhood to adulthood or marriage.
The carefully incised patterning on the garments and headdresses may echo real Roman fashion, and the relatively abstract facial features suggest a focus on form and gesture over portraiture. Examples of this type have been uncovered in sites from Pompeii to Britain, illustrating their widespread popularity across the empire. Size: 1.5" W x 5.75" H (3.8 cm x 14.6 cm)
PROVENANCE: Collection of Y. Kayvan, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from a Los Angeles, California, USA gallery acquisition dates range from the late 1990s to 2005
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Item #
195266
- Condition: Small losses to each. All appendages reattached with one modern pin showing. Rare to find with original arms.
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