TINTINNABULUM ROMAN, 1 ST C ENT U RY AD B R O N ZE
HEIGHT: 10,5 CM.
WIDTH: 15 CM.
DEPTH: 25 CM.
PR O V EN AN C E: FOR MER LY IN TH E C O LLEC TIO N O F HENRY DE MO N T H ER LA N T ( 1 8 9 5 - 1 9 72 ) , PAR IS . FOR MER LY IN TH E C O LLEC TIO N O F ROGER PEYREFITTE ( 1 9 0 7- 2 0 0 0 ) , PA RIS . FORMER LY IN A PRIV A T E C O LLEC T IO N , ACQUIRED FR O M RO G ER PEYREFITTE IN 1 9 9 2 .
A tintinnabulum is an object bedecked with bells, tintinnabulum meaning “bell” in Latin. The Romans hung them above the doors of dwellings and shops. Most commonly made of bronze, these objects had an apotropaic function, meaning that their purpose was to ward off evil spirits and bad luck. Henry de Montherlant (1895-1972)