Object Description
A Roman bone dress pin with ribbed collar and bearded male bust, possibly of Jupiter (Greek Zeus), wearing a solar crown. The shaft is cylindrical and tapers to a point for easy insertion into the hair.
Pins such as these would have been used on elaborate styles, where the hair is twisted and coiled to allow the pin to remain in place. Due to the smooth nature of the pin’s shaft, a loose hairstyle would have allowed the pin to fall out. A fine example, such as this, is rare.
Provenance: Property of a North London gentleman; previously in a private collection formed in the 1990s.
Condition: Fine condition