Antiquities

The House of Gutenberg

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About My Antiquities

My Relics - Relics from the Roman Empire are being excavated all over Europe and England. Some of these are excavated by amateur and professional diggers and others are excavated by archeological teams in the employ of large international dealers and museum suppliers. Most of the antiquities I have come from a UK dealer who specializes in supplying museums around the world with items for their collections. Some of the items they have are incredible and valued in the 7 figure range price wise. My interest is in those valued in the under $500 price range. Most of my Chinese antiquities were obtained from the estate of two long-time collectors. Other items were picked up in various other places.

Terms and Conditions - Please click here to see my terms and conditions

My Auctions - Please click here to see my currently running eBay auctions.

Descriptions/Warranty - All of these items are guaranteed authentic and, are to the best of my knowledge, correctly described. Even major dealers make mistakes. As an example, #724-728 were described by my dealer as ancient Roman military accoutrements. My research turned up that these are actually small bell clappers. If anyone sees an item that is improperly described, please email me with the reference so that I can check it out and make any necessary corrections.

Certificates of Authenticity (COA) - A COA is available on any of these items at an additional fee of $10.00. COAs are a 8.5" x 5.5" certificate that has a picture and description of the item. They are made on order only and will delay shipping by 2 days maximum. Since we have to scan the item for the COA, under no circumstances will a COA be issued after an item leaves our office.

Condition - Most of these items are either iron or bronze. Generally the bronze items are in much better condition than are the iron ones, which are subject to rust over the centuries. Bi-metal items such as the razor (#AR206) are generally excavated with the bronze part in excellent condition, while the iron or other metal may be partially or completely gone. The majority of my items are classified as "museum quality."

Seals - The use of seals to authenticate documents, is a practice as old as writing itself. Seals of this nature were applied directly to the face of the document or attached to the document by cords in the owner's, or to a narrow strip of the document sliced and folded down as a tail but not detached from the document. This helped maintain authenticity by not allowing the reuse of the seal. If a forger tried to remove the seal in the first case, it would break. In the other cases, although the forger could remove the seal intact by ripping the cords from the paper, he'd still have to separate the cords to attach it to another document, which would destroy the seal as well because the cords had knots tied in them inside the wax seal. Seals were also applied to letters and parcels to indicate whether or not the item had been opened since the seal was applied. Seals were used both to seal the item to prevent tampering, as well as to provide proof that the item was actually from the sender and is not a forgery. To seal a letter, for example, a letter writer would compose the letter, fold it over, pour wax over the joint formed by the top of the page of paper, and then impress a ring, metal stamp, or other device. Governments would often send letters to citizens under the governmental seal for their eyes only.

Patinas - The iron items will all show rust. Most of the bronze items have a beautiful patina. Patina is a chemical compound formed on the surface of metal. Patinas form on metal from exposure to the elements. Patinas are restricted to exposed surfaces and can flake off. One reason bronze is so highly valued in statuary is that its patina protects it against further corrosion. This natural patina seldom shows a tendency to flake. The best known example of patina on an item is the green patina on the copper plates on the Statue of Liberty. Many collectors feel the value of an item is ruined if the patina is cleaned. I never clean the patina on any of my items. Except for cleaning the dirt of excavated items, I do no cleaning of any of my items.

Zoomorphic - Some of these items are described as "zoomorphic." This refers to the representation of animal forms in ornaments, or to the representation of gods in the form, or with attributes, of non-human animals, and also to the transformation of humans into beasts.

Fibula - The fibula has been used as a design brooch and clothing fastener from as far back as 500 B.C. It was the standard 'safety pin' of the Celts, Vikings, Greeks, Romans, and Saxons. In Roman times, this implement would be placed at a woman's shoulder and used to fasten the garment known as the stola ( for men it was the toga )which was a long single piece of cloth worn over a tunic. In addition to being used like a safety pin, fibula were also used as decorations - like the pins and brooches women wear today. When found, more often the iron pin has rusted away. Often the excavators will restore the pins.

Images - If you are interested in seeing other images of any particular item, please let me know and I will either email it to you or give you a link to it. You can click on the thumbnails beside each description for a larger image.

Shipping and Insurance - Unless otherwise noted, shipping and insurance is included on all of these items except when purchased at auction.

Payment Forms - PayPal is my preferred method of payment (http://www.paypal.com). My username is elisabeth1975@peoplepc.com. I also accept checks, money orders, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa.

Questions - Please eMail me at heroautographs@consolidated.net with any questions. You can also call me at 936-676-6375.

Cy Stapleton - Box 151107 - Lufkin, TX 75915-1107

Ancient Roman Artifacts

Click on image for a larger picture

	#AR205 - Ancient Roman Razor - This outstanding and scarce Roman iron razor dates from about 100AD and was excavated in Northern Italy. It has an intact suspension loop and measures 132mm. This item is pictured in Petrie Tools and Weapons, plates LX, #62 and #63. Value is $175.00. $85.00 including insurance and shipping. SOLD
	#AR206 - Ancient Roman Razor - This beautiful rare ancient Roman bronze zoomorphic shaving razor depicts two Griffon's heads. It has a beautiful green patina. It is completely intact except for the missing thin iron blade at the bottom, which has rusted away over the years. This item measures 68mm wide and is valued at $275.00. $125.00 including insurance and shipping. This item dates approximately 100ad and was excavated in Northern Italy.
	#AR207 - Medieval Bullet Mold - This fantastic item is 1/2 of a Medieval bullet mold, excavated in Western France. The mold is bronze and appears to be handmade. The antiquities dealer I got it from said he believed it was from the medieval period. The diameter of the cast bullet would have been about 13mm. The mold is 28mm long by 15mm wide. While the outside of the mold is rather crude and rough, the inside and lugs appear to be carefully cut. Value $175.00. $49.00 including insurance and shipping.
	#AR708 - Fibula or Toga Pin - A beautiful, rare ancient Roman bronze zoomorphic fibula or toga pin made like a bird. This was excavated in Bulgaria and measures 40mm long. Most of the pin is intact. See more info about fibula at the top of this page. Value $475.00. $225.00
	#AR709 - Fibula or Toga Pin - While an authentic fibula, this one has seen better days. The pin is not original. I cannot put a value on this, but for $19.00 it is a steal.
	#AR710 & #AR711 - Roman Senator's Voting Stick - The voting stick on the left - #AR710 - is a large and scarce zoomorphic ancient Roman senator's voting stick. Provential senators used these throughout the empire to vote on local matters such as collecting taxes, paying for local legions, provential coins, and gladiator games. It was found in Greek Macedonia and is valued at $600.00. It measures 85mm. $125.00. The most unusual voting stick on the right - #AR711 - is also a zoomorphic and was found at the same excavation. It is valued at $550.00. $125.00. Both have very nice green patinas.
	#AR204 - Arrow Point - Rare Scythian Kingdom socketed bronze arrowhead with three sharp putting and scarce markings still visible. This item was excavated in the Danube river, inhabited by the Scythians. It dates from 500-300BC and measures 34mm. Value is $250.00 - $75.00 including insurance and shipping
	#AR200, 201, and 202) - Iron Crossbow Bolt and Arrow Points - These nice items were excavated in Eastern Europe. The one on the left is a barbed socketed crossbow bolt (#AR200) and is valued at $100.00 - $30.00. The middle one (#AR201_ and one on the right (#AR202) are arrow points. They date from the 1st-3rd century AD and were excavated in Eastern Europe. Their value is $50 each. $24 each including insurance and shipping on all. The longest one measures 120mm.
	#AR712 - Crossbow Bolt - This is a very nice socketed Medieval iron barbed socketed crossbow bolt dating from about the late 7th century AD. It measures 92mm and is valued at $150. While I am not certain just where this was excavated, it was packaged with several others that were described as being found in Southern Germany. $39.00 including insurance and shipping
	#AR 713, 714, and 715 - Arrow Points - These 3 iron points were excavated in Bulgaria and date from approximately 100AD. The longest measures 79mm and they are valued at $50 each. The one on the left (#AR713) $20.00; Middle one (#AR714) $20.00 and the one on the right (#AR715) $20.00. Note that #AR713 on the left may actually be a pike point rather than an arrow point. I've seen this style described as both an arrow point and a pike point.
	#AR716- 717and 718 - Arrow Points and Crossbow Bolt - These 3 nice items are iron that were excavated in Bulgaria and the longest measures 94mm. #AR716, the one on the left is valued at $50. $20.00. The center one - #AR717 - is a socketed crossbow bolt valued at $125.00. $39.00. The one on the right - #AR718 - is an arrowpoint valued at $50.00. $20.00. While found with items dated about 100AD, the crossbow bolt is quite similar to those found in Germany that date from the 7th and 8th century.
	#AR719 - Ancient Roman Knife Pendant - This beautiful ancient Roman bronze knife pendant dates from between 100BC and 100AD and was excavated in France. It has a nice green patina and the suspension loop to hang it from is intact. This beauty measures 8.5cm long and is valued at $325.00. $125.00 includes shipping and insurance.
	#AR720 - Medieval Bronze Seal Pendant - This seal pendant dates from the 7th to 8th century AD and measures 19mm in diameter. Seals like this were used to stamp a wax seal on letters, documents, etc. See more about seals at the top of this page. Value is $225.00. $75.00
	#AR713 - Ancient Stone Seal Pendant - This fantastic item dates from between 2000 and 1500BC. It is a hand carved stone seal pendant that was excavated in Turkey. See about seals at the top of this page. This measures 2cm and is valued at $350. The design is quite clear. $125.00
	#AR714 through 723 - Ancient Roman Hair Pin - Cleopatra wore many of these hairpins in her hair, as did most women of both the Eastern and Western empire. These hairpins had a hole in them where ribbon or other bangles were hung. These range from 9cm to 18cm in length. The top two are damaged (AR714 and #715). The two damaged ones are $10.00 each and the others are $19.00 each. Value of these is between $50.00 and $75.00 each. The numbers on these are from top to bottom with #AR714 on the top and #AR723 at the bottom. Click on the thumbnail for a larger view. These date from between 100BC and 100AD and were excavated in both the Eastern and Western Empire.
	#AR724, 725, 726, 727, and 728 - Byzantine Lead Bell Clappers - These are lead bell clappers that were on small bells which were used for decoration, jewelry, etc. They date from the 7th to 8th century AD and the largest measures 18mm. The value of these is $35.00 each. $15.00 each
	#AR203 - Byzantine Lead Cross - This scarce, attractive Byzantine lead cross dates from the 9th-12th century AD. It measures 27mm long and the suspension loop is intact. It is wearable. The actual of this item is $295. $75.00 (including shipping and insurance) Click on thumbnail picture for larger view.
	#AR729 - Ancient Roman Writing Stylus - This beautiful item has one end that is pointed and the other was flattened into a broad shape for erasing. The Romans used wax coated tablets to write on with these instruments. The item measures 69mm long and is valued at $350.00 - $125.00
	The next few items are ancient Roman fire starters. The diagram at the left shows how they were used. The user would strike the starter against a piece of flint and the sparks would ignite the flammable material. These were excavated in various points in Western Europe and all date from 100AD to 300AD.
	#AR730 & 731 - Ancient Roman Fire Starter. The top one - #AR730 - measures 88mm. The suspension loop is intact. Value is $50.00. $24.00. The bottom one - #AR731 - measures 31mm. Value is $50. $24.00
	#AR732 - Ancient Roman Fire Starter. Measures 91mm. Suspension loop is intact - Value is $50.00 - $24.00
	#AR733 and #AR734 - Ancient Roman Fire Starter
	#AR735 and #AR736 - Ancient Roman Fire Starter