Roman ceremonial diadem
1st – 2nd century AD
height cm 6 (2,4”); length cm 20 (8”)
Rare brow band, characterized by five portraits in high relief, different each other, divided by low relief columns in Ionic style; thin band with a sequence of petals on the lower section; two external interlocking hooks. Despite of the outlined features, the five portraits could be assigned to the Imperial Age: one female bust revokes the typical hairstyle of Julio-Claudian dynasty with the central tuft arranged in a knob; the other female bust on the right reproduces the hairdo in a diadem of Flavian period.
An example of ceremonial dona maiora in Western Roman provinces, destined to elitist cavalry exponents, as attested in Roman Legio X Gemina. Originally part of ritual helmet composite by a face mask, diadem and neck guards on each side.

REFERENCES
H. van Enckevort - W. J. Willems 2017: "Roman cavalry helmets in ritual hoards from the Kops Plateau at Nijmegen, The Netherlands", in Journal of Roman Military Equipment Studies 5, pp. 125-137, Bloomington 2017.

PROVENANCE
Private collection, London.