Rome, early Imperial Period, ca. 0 CE. This is a silvered bronze plaque with beautiful patina and excellent detail including remaining silvering. It depicts a bust wearing a heavy cloak and necklace; the figure has some kind of interesting headdress or hairstyle -- think Princess Leia. The plaque's frame is a pattern of punched-out circles and delicate edges. Silver plating was rarer in the ancient world than gilding; although both silver and gold were placed over bronze pieces because of their lower reactivity to oxygen, silver is more susceptible to bronze oxidation and a thicker coating was required. As with this piece, the bronze oxidation often works its way through the silver, partly destroying it in the process. Similar pieces have the central bust representing an emperor; this type of plaque may have originally been an ornamental saddle trapping, as ones held in the British Museum were. Size: 3-3/4" W x 3-3/4" H; 6-1/4" H with custom stand (9.5 cm x 9.5 cm; 15.9 cm).

Provenance: Ex- Private New Jersey collection acquired 1970's

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#111047

One small corner of the frame is damaged but otherwise the piece is intact. Much of the silvering has gone, but some is still visible. The piece has a deep turquoise patina.