By examining a small corpus of varied material (metalwork, ceramics and glass) this work presents a study of the Danube area in the middle and late Imperial age. The region is characterized by remarkable social, political and administrative transformations and the Danube itself is a natural 'limes' between Rome and the North. In the study the author highlights the relationships between the social environment and the commission, execution and destination of high-status artefacts found in the region.