Celtic & Roman Artefacts
Celtic, Romano‑British and Roman artefacts span over a millennium of craftsmanship, ritual practice and daily life across Iron Age and Roman Britain. These small finds include votive offerings, fasteners, toggles, mounts, tools, rings and decorative fittings, each reflecting the cultural blend of native Celtic traditions and Roman influence. Surviving examples provide a direct link to personal adornment, belief, trade and everyday activity in the ancient world.
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WRO 8469 — Celtic / Roman Votive Bronze Looped & Socketed Axehead
A bronze votive looped and socketed axehead with gently tapering body. Circa 1st century BC to 1st century AD. UKDFD #31276. Lincolnshire. 25mm x 10mm.
Miniature objects of this type may either have been votive (used as symbolic offerings to the gods), or talismanic (carried or worn for their supposed magical properties).
£70.00
WRO 8759 — Celtic / Roman Strap Fitting
A copper alloy belt mount or strap slide from the late Iron Age to early Roman period. The design consists of a double loop ('figure of eight') with moulded frontal ridge; on the reverse is a large rectangular loop. 1st–2nd century AD. UKDFD 47691. Colne, Lancashire. 32.7mm x 17.5mm x 16.3mm.
Complete.
£65.00
WRO 8205 — Celtic / Roman Button & Looped Fastener
A copper alloy button and looped fastener in the shape of an eye. The central section is decorated with two concentric rings of enamel. Circa AD 70–150. 33mm x 18mm.
Complete.
£65.00
WRO 8890 — Roman Button & Looped Fastener
A copper alloy button and looped fastener with plain rectangular head and triangular loop. Circa late 1st to 2nd century AD. See: Wild J.P., Button‑and‑Loop Fasteners in the Roman Provinces, Britannia Vol. 1 (1970), Class VIb. 40mm x 15mm.
The exact function of these items is uncertain. They may be clothing fasteners, but other theories include their possible use on horse harness or sword scabbards.
£30.00
WRO 9945 — Romano‑British Ear Scoop
A copper alloy ear scoop with suspension loop, ribbed collar and ring‑and‑dot decorated body. Complete with scoop at 90 degrees. 1st–4th century AD. Found near Oakham, Rutland. 54mm long.
Having the scoop at 90 degrees to the body is unusual but purposely done.
£75.00
WRO 8544 — Roman Nail Cleaner
A sturdy bronze nail cleaner with circular top and slim straight‑sided body. 2nd–3rd century. North Yorkshire. 39mm long.
Unusually this item does not have a suspension loop. I have carefully examined this piece and it is complete.
£35.00
WRO 7969 — Celtic / Roman Toggle
A well‑formed cast copper‑alloy 'dumbbell' toggle. 1st–3rd century AD. 24mm x 10mm.
£25.00
WRO 7616 — Celtic / Roman Toggle
A well‑formed cast copper‑alloy 'dumbbell' toggle. 1st–3rd century AD. Lincolnshire. 22mm long.
£25.00
WRO 7180 — Celtic / Roman Toggle
A well‑formed cast copper‑alloy 'dumbbell' toggle. 1st–3rd century AD. North Yorkshire. 20mm long.
£20.00
WRO 7703 — Celtic / Roman Toggle
A well‑formed cast copper‑alloy 'dumbbell' toggle. 1st–3rd century AD. North Yorkshire. 22mm long.
£20.00
WRO 8061 — Roman Zoomorphic Chatelaine
A copper alloy zoomorphic manicure set (chatelaine) in the shape of a three‑dimensional cockerel. Decorated with ridges to the body and tail; the head has a large eye enamelled in red and blue. Two lugs to the base for suspended implements. Body hollow with central hole. Thought to be attached to a garment via a wire suspension loop. Circa 1st–2nd century AD. PAS # SWYOR‑C74924. East Yorkshire. 39mm long, 31mm tall, 10mm wide.
An unusual piece recorded with the PAS. No parallel found — most probably unique.
£565.00
WRO 7717 — Romano‑British Bowl / Bucket Mount
A copper‑alloy mount in the form of a young male bust with head turned right, drapery on left shoulder and wearing headband. 1st–4th century AD. Lincolnshire. 37mm high.
Complete with suspension loop.
£125.00
WRO 4500 — Roman Bronze Appliqué
A bronze appliqué of a three‑dimensional male bust. 2nd century AD. European. 46mm high.
£75.00
WRO 4503 — Roman Lead Roundel
A lead roundel decorated with a three‑dimensional female head wearing a head‑dress of flowers and vine leaves. 1st–2nd century AD. 26mm high.
Damaged at one side but of good style. Most probably a test piece for a mould.
£48.00
WRO 3524 — Romano‑British Bronze Appliqué
A bronze appliqué of a crouching dog wearing a collar. 2nd–3rd century AD. 30mm long.
Brown patina.
£95.00
WRO 6193 — Roman Seal Box
A bronze teardrop‑shaped seal box, the lid decorated with traces of red enamel. 1st–2nd century AD. 28mm long.
Complete.
£65.00
WRO 8519 — Roman Lead Token / Seal
A double‑sided lead token or seal. One side shows a naked male (god) with cloak flowing from shoulder, holding grapes and raising right arm above a child. Reverse shows two standing figures facing right. 1st–4th century AD. UKDFD #36294. East Yorkshire. 14mm diameter.
£35.00
WRO 8598 — Roman Phallic Dagger or Knife Terminal
A Roman copper‑alloy dagger or knife terminal in the shape of a phallus, shell and hand. 1st–4th century AD. East Anglia. 45mm long, 8mm wide.
The central tapering rectangular piercing suggests this is most probably the terminal from a knife or dagger. The pointed phallus end may have doubled as an oyster opener.
£115.00
WRO 4116 — Roman Knife Handle
A fine bronze knife handle, the body engraved with a feather pattern, and the terminal with an animal’s head, possibly a lioness. 1st–2nd century AD. 53mm long.
Some of the original tinned surface remains.
£95.00
WRO 5190 — Roman Knife Handle
A fine bronze knife handle, the body engraved with a feather‑like pattern, the terminal decorated with the head of a lioness. 1st century AD. 53mm long.
Some traces of the silvered/tinned surface remain.
£95.00
WRO 7716 — Roman Knife / Razor Handle
A copper‑alloy knife or razor handle in the form of a leg and foot wearing a sandal. 1st–4th century AD. PAS # SWYOR‑B98CF4. Bassetlaw district, Nottinghamshire. 22mm long.
A rare form of knife/razor handle recorded with the PAS.
£75.00
WRO 7715 — Roman Lead Seal
A conical lead seal stamped with a male head left. 12mm diameter. From the style and likeness, this likely dates to the 3rd century and depicts one of the Caesars/emperors of the Severan dynasty.
£35.00
WRO 6832 — Roman Enamelled Mount
A solid bronze domed mount decorated with lozenge‑shaped enamel cells. Some white and yellow enamel remain. 1st–2nd century AD. 18mm diameter.
Complete with single fixing lug to rear.
£30.00
WRO 5064 — Roman Decorative Mount
A bronze decorative mount with petal‑shaped sections of red and blue enamel. Reverse has two “T”‑shaped studs for fixing to leather. 1st–2nd century AD. 21mm diameter.
Complete and attractive.
£65.00
WRO 7519 — Roman Enamelled Mount
A bronze circular mount with nine lugs, each with raised circular sections set with red enamel. 1st–2nd century AD. 24mm diameter.
Complete with single “D”‑shaped fixing bar to rear.
£35.00
WRO 6184 — Roman Enamelled Bronze Finger Ring
A bronze finger ring with decorated shoulders and circular bezel set with pale red and green enamel. 2nd century AD.
Complete, attractive and wearable.
£85.00
WRO 8669 — Roman Finger Ring
An attractive solid finger ring with arched shoulders and raised circular bezel inscribed with a large letter X. 1st–3rd century AD. 16mm internal diameter.
Metal has a base‑silver, gun‑metal appearance. Dark grey‑black patina. Complete and wearable.
£75.00
For related material, see our Hallstatt & Iron Age Antiquities, Dark Age, Viking & Anglo‑Saxon Antiquities and Byzantine Antiquities.
Celtic, Romano‑British and Roman small finds remain highly collectable, especially complete pieces with good detail or enamel. New additions are listed here as they become available.