{"product_id":"roman-bronze-ring-vindex-2nd-4th-c-ce-keeled-shoulders","title":"Roman Bronze Ring - 'Vindex' (2nd–4th c. CE) EU 66 \/ US 11.5","description":"\u003cp\u003eA Roman keeled bronze ring named 'Vindex', whose hatched shoulder panels most likely echo the good-luck wish that some rings of this form carried in the same place. Two straight, sloping faces rise from a thin hoop to a small, worn apex.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Motif:\u003cbr\u003eOn each sloping face, a panel framed by fine border lines is filled with evenly spaced strokes cut across it like the rungs of a ladder; two or three grooves mark where each face meets the hoop. The layout most likely echoes inscribed rings of the same form, which can carry a Latin wish such as VTERE FELIX, 'use it with luck', with one word on each face. The panels here sit in the same place and are framed the same way, but the strokes are even and form no letters. Plain geometric ornament with no reference to lettering is the other possible reading. The wish promised luck to whoever used the object it was written on; read this way, the hatched panels made 'Vindex' a good-luck ring, carrying the promise without the letters.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Roman\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Bronze\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 66 \/ US 11.5\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Mottled green and reddish-brown patina; hoop intact but pushed out of round and pinched at the back; one hatched panel crisp, the other with most strokes worn away, and the apex worn smooth\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Private family collection assembled in the 1960s, later inherited by the previous owner (K.V.D., Belgium).\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-96-B\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRestoration and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis piece is preserved in its untouched state, showing natural aging and patina from centuries of burial and wear. For those who prefer a refreshed look, a professional restoration service is available, reviving original detail while respecting historical integrity.\u003cbr\u003eIf you’d like to book a restoration, simply add the restoration option along with your order or book it as the additional product in my shop.\u003cbr\u003eA Certificate of Authenticity is included.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eKeeled rings of this form, cast in one piece with straight faces sloping from a thin, rounded back up to a small plate or apex, are a Roman type comparable to Riha type 2.6 and Henig Type VIII. On some the small plate is not raised at all; on 'Vindex' the apex forms a low crest. The sloping faces invited ornament, which ring-makers of the period liked to repeat on either side of the head: lozenges, chevrons, leaves, or transverse strokes between two parallel lines. Good-luck wishes such as VTERE FELIX were among the most popular Roman inscriptions, found on rings as well as on brooches, belt fittings, spoons and pottery.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhere some rings of its type spelled out a wish for luck, 'Vindex' carries two framed fields of hatching, most likely the same promise kept in ornament.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ancient-roman-rings\"\u003eRoman rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":63679909003594,"sku":"R-96-B","price":280.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/roman-bronze-ring-vindex-three-quarter-view-showing-keeled-shoulders-and-hatched-1.jpg?v=1790374295","url":"https:\/\/auroraantiqua.com\/products\/roman-bronze-ring-vindex-2nd-4th-c-ce-keeled-shoulders","provider":"Aurora Antiqua","version":"1.0","type":"link"}