Archaeological Museum of Bologna

Museo Civico Archeologico
Via dell'Archiginnasio 2 - 40124 Bologna
Tel. 051.27.57.211

Direzione e Uffici
Via de' Musei 8 – 40124 Bologna
Tel. 051.27.57.211 - Fax 051.26.65.16
mca@comune.bologna.it

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Collections / Itineraries / Roman Collection: ivory

Introduction

The ivory, imported mainly from Africa, was used in Rome since the imperial age for the production of luxury items. The carving of ivory had a great development in particular in the last centuries of the Roman Empire with the creation of diptychs and pyxes.
Due to the high cost and of its rarity, the ivory was often replaced by bone ox, more economical and readily available material, used for the realization of decorative appliques of furniture and beds and for the production of small items such as cutter handles, pins, combs or unguent containers.

Exhibition rooms | Room IX - Roman Collection