Ancient Roman Bronze Bread-Stamps

Ancient Roman, 3rd-4th century AD. Triangular bronze bread stamp. A Greek “A” within triangular border, small handle with central hole on back. Green-brown patina, earthen deposits. L: 4.2 cm (1 5/8”). Intact. Ex CNG. #AR3365: $350 SOLD

Byzantine Empire, c. 7th-9th century AD. Great bronze bread stamp. Trefoil-shaped, the center with Greek ΛЄNO, within border. Original suspension loop/handle still attached to back!Green patina, light earthen deposits. L: 3.4 cm (1 3/8”). Intact. Ex CNG. #AR3367: $450


A preserved loaf of bread discovered at Herculaneum, with impression of a similar stamp shown at top (mid 1st century AD).
See: Andrew Wallace- Hadrill, Herculaneum, Francis Lincoln Ltd, 2011, p. 244. The bread with the stamp of Celer, slave of Quintus Granius is found in the House of the Stags, aka house of the Deers (Casa dei Cervi). The exact literary reference is: CIL X 8058, 18. Thanks to Max Beijne, Netherlands for the attribution! This is at the museum of Naples (does not belong to me!)


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An ancient Roman bakery in Pompeii that I visited this year. Note the large stone grain grinding stone in the foreground and oven in the background, complete with fire-pit beneath and ceramic-lined chimney. This is exactly the type of bakery where bread stamps such as these would have been used. At the bottom of this page is shown a preserved loaf of bread from one of these bakeries in Pompeii. So fascinating!

Ancient Rome, 1st-5th century AD. Amazing large bronze bread stamp. Reads "MIAVILIXX HIAERONIS"
Incredible deep emerald-green patina. Thick and heavy. Remarkably well preserved and with excellent eye-appeal!
Measures 70 mm (2 3/4 inches) long. Small drop of red wax on back from an early museum collection (could eaily be removed if desired). Ex-Royal Athena Galleries, New York. #RA2810: $845 SOLD

Ancient Rome, 1st-5th century AD. Gorgeous bronze bread-stamp. Reads "AVRI V L(IS)VE(S). Lovely emerald-green patina, some original earthen encrustation. Remarkably well preserved--a beautiful piece! Measures 40 mm 1 1/2 inches) long. Ex-Royal Athena Galleries, New York. #RA5204: SOLD

Ancient Rome, c. 3rd - 4th Century AD. Great bronze bread-stamp. In the shape of an "S" with large handle with angled shoulder and top. On base in relief: FLOR.M.C, probably the name of the merchant. L: 2" (5.1 cm). An interesting stamp! From the private collection of Dr. M.A. Dollfus, who published them for the scientific community. See M. A. Dollfus, Le cachets de bronze romains, in Bulletin Archeologique du Comite des Travaux Historiques et Scientifiques, 1967-1968. Ex Royal Athena Galleries, New York. #A11202: $575 SOLD

Ancient Rome, c. 3rd - 4th Century AD. Excellent bronze bread-stamp. In the shape of a "Z" with looped handle. On base in relief: VITALI.S, with a ligatured T/A, probably the name of the merchant. 67x40 mm (2 5/8" x 1 1/2") with deep olive-green patina and light earthen deposits. An interesting stamp! See M. A. Dollfus, Le cachets de bronze romains, in Bulletin Archeologique du Comite des Travaux Historiques et Scientifiques, 1967-1968. From a UK private collection. #AR2137: $650 SOLD


Ancient Rome, c. 3rd-5th century AD. Gorgeous, large bronze bread stamp. Round in form, with loop handle on back. Inside with large raised Greek letters reading "DIONYCIW" ("of Dionysos" or Dionysion). From the Roman provinces, perhaps Egypt. Gorgeous olive-green patina with light earthen deposits which give it great contrast. Mounted on custom metal base, displays extremely well! See M. A. Dollfus, Le cachets de bronze romains, in Bulletin Archeologique du Comite des Travaux Historiques et Scientifiques, 1967-1968. Stamp is large, 67 mm (2 5/8") diameter. More images available upon request. From an old French private collection. #AR2274: $1150 SOLD

Late Roman to Byzantine, c. 4th - 7th Century AD. Excellent bronze tool for rolling the edges of bread or pastries. The handle is looped for suspension and decorated with crossing incised lines, the grooved wheel spinning freely on an iron axel. Intact and still functional! An incredible interesting piece. L: 122 mm (4 3/4"). Ex Bedford, England private collection. #AR2329: SOLD

Ancient Rome, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Huge bronze bread stamp. The letters reading "P I C A L I - F O R T V".
Small piece missing from one edge. Great olive-green patina with heavy earthen deposits (could be cleaned).
Measures 3 7/8" (98 mm) long, very thick and heavy! Ex-old NY private collection; ex-Aphrodite Gallery, NY. #AR2449: $750 SOLD

Late Roman/Byzantine, c. 5th - 7th Century AD. Fantastic and very large limestone bread stamp, the base incised with a large anchor, four Greek letters around. The stamp is roughly oval in shape with a narrow handle at center. 110x66 mm (4 1/4" x 2 1/2"). Intact, with deep-cut details and light earthen deposits. Ex Suffolk, England private collection. #AB2016: $450 SOLD

Early Byzantine, c. 5th-7th century AD. Interesting bronze bread stamp. ΘЄO surrounded by border, small traces of the loop handle evident on back (lost to history). Green patina, earthen encrustation. L: 3.8 cm (1 1/2”). Ex CNG. #AR3366: $225 SOLD

Ancient Rome, c. 3rd - 4th Century AD. Great bronze bread-stamp, deeply engraved with “L-V-POSTVMIVVARIS,” probably the name of the merchant. It was done in retrograde, so when the bread was stamped it would read properly. With large handle with angled shoulder and top. L: 2 1/4” (5.8 cm), dark olive-green patina. An interesting stamp! See M. A. Dollfus, Le cachets de bronze romains, in Bulletin Archeologique du Comite des Travaux Historiques et Scientifiques, 1967-1968 for parallels. Ex Florida collection; ex New York City gallery. #AR3163: $750 SOLD

Ancient Rome, c. 4th-5th Century AD. A large rectangular bread stamp with large circular handle, incised SEXANNI APRODISI within a linear border. An interesting stamp with thick patination. Handle repaired where it meets the base of the stamp. W: 2 1/4" (5.7 cm). From the private collection of Dr. M.A. Dollfus, who published them for the scientific community. See M. A. Dollfus, Le cachets de bronze romains, in Bulletin Archeologique du Comite des Travaux Historiques et Scientifiques, 1967-1968. Ex East Coast collection, ex-Royal Athena Galleries, New York. Awesome display-piece! #RA5204: SOLD


Ancient Roman, c.1st - 2nd Century AD. Large and heavy bronze bread stamp with large oval base and thick loop handle. On base: SEX ANTO ORIP between a winged caduceus and a thyrsos. The caduceus was the serpent-entwined staff of the god Aesklepios, the ancient god of health and healing. Intact with nice green patina, areas of earthen encrustation and some pitting on the base. W: 2" (6.4 cm). From the private collection of Dr. M.A. Dollfus, who published them for the scientific community. See M. A. Dollfus, Le cachets de bronze romains, in Bulletin Archeologique du Comite des Travaux Historiques et Scientifiques, 1967-1968. Ex East Coast collection, ex-Royal Athena Galleries, New York. An awesome display-piece! #0314118: $950 SOLD


Byzantine, c. 6th-8th century AD. Nice bronze bread stamp, with rotating suspension loop. ΛЄON around the inside of the square frame. Dimensions: 33x31mm. Nice olive-green patina, earthen deposits. Intact with a few light scratches. ex-CNG. #AB2012: $750 SOLD

Late Roman to Byzantine, c. 602-610 AD. Fantastic bronze bread stamp, in the form of a crescent, inscribed "CON PHO" in large letters. The shape suggests that even in ancient times people baked and ate croissant-shaped breads. The inscription could have various meanings, but likely refers to the capital Constantinople and the emperor Phocas (AD 602-610). Dia: 63 mm (2 7/16"). Great olive-green patina, light earthen deposits. ex-Santa Barbara County, CA scholastic collection. #AB2023: $750 SOLD

Ancient Rome, c. 1st century BC - 2nd century AD. Interesting marble bread or pastry roller. used to roll the outside of a round pastry or bread, and the underside is a deeply-cut stamp which would have been used on the for decorative accents. 50x42 mm
(2" x 1 5/8"), with great patina & color. Ex-old New York private collection. Could still be used once again after thousands of years! Found with the example at right ---> #AR2788: $350 SOLD

Ancient Rome, c. 1st century BC - 2nd century AD. Interesting marble bread or pastry roller. used to roll the outside of a round pastry or bread, and the underside is a deeply-cut stamp which would have been used on the for decorative accents. 50x42 mm
(2" x 1 5/8"), with great patina & color. Ex-old New York private collection. Could still be used once again after thousands of years! <--- Found with the example at left. #AR2789: $350 SOLD