Description:

Roman, Late Imperial Period or early Byzantine Empire, ca. 4th to 7th century CE. A rectangular leaded-bronze bread stamp with two rows of letters and a ring form handle. Bread stamps have been used throughout the Old World, particularly the Mediterranean and Near East, since the emergence of Greco-Roman culture; they were used for religious, magical, economic, and identification purposes. For example, in classical Greece, bread would be stamped when it was used in a ritual performance or as offerings (Herodotus describes this). Several stamped, carbonized loaves of bread have been documented from Pompeii; they were stamped with the name of the baker in order to establish ownership and prevent forgeries. Later, Eucharistic bread was stamped with a variety of religious symbols. Size: 2" L x 0.75" W x 1" H (5.1 cm x 1.9 cm x 2.5 cm)

Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

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#182449

  • Condition: Softening to letters with some abrasions and rubbing, but overall great condition with green patina and dark toning.

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Shipping

8. IN-HOUSE SHIPPING: All buyers will receive an invoice detailing their purchases, sales tax (if applicable), buyer's premium, and shipping/insurance charges. Items will be shipped only upon receipt of payment in full and will be insured for their full value. We are currently experiencing shipping delays due to staff shortages, please allow up to 15 days for shipping after payment is received. If you prefer to work with a third-party shipper, we can assist with recommendations.

**Please note, we are currently unable to ship to Australia, Germany and Switzerland due to customs clearance issues. If you are in one of these countries, you will need to provide an alternate shipping destination, or we will not be able to complete your purchase.*

**For shipments outside of the USA, customs and duties may apply upon entry into said country; this fee, if any, is the buyer's responsibility. Also, please be aware that Artemis Gallery will NOT falsify customs value on any international shipments - what you pay is what we declare, no exceptions. There are a small number of international countries we cannot ship to. If you have questions about this, please inquire BEFORE bidding**

January 11, 2024 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 32.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000