Loading, please wait...
Details
LOT 0531
Archaic Greek Bronze Statuette of a Coiled and Rearing Snake
ARCHAIC, 6TH-5TH CENTURY B.C.
4 1/4 in. (312 grams, 11 cm).
Modelled in the round with coiled body and rearing head, barbed fin to the forehead, punched annulet texturing on the body.
Provenance
Private collection, Neuchâtel, Switzerland, assembled in the 1980s.
Acquired in 1995 by a European private collector.
Private collection, since the late 1990s.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12856-241689.
Literature
See Dallas Museum of Art, object number 1969.7.
Footnotes
Snakes were important symbols in ancient Greek culture and were often linked with protection, healing, and renewal. Because they shed their skin, they were seen as a sign of rebirth and new life. They were also connected with gods and spirits of the earth and underworld, and in some cases were thought to protect the home or sacred places. In Greek art, a snake could therefore carry both religious and symbolic meaning.
CONDITIONVETTING:
TimeLine Auctions follows a rigorous vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.
LOT 0531
Archaic Greek Bronze Statuette of a Coiled and Rearing Snake
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000€5,780 - 8,100 (for guidance only)$6,700 - 9,380 (for guidance only)
RELATED LOTS
-
Greek Lead Slingshot Group
4th-3rd century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
Comprising three lentoid-section bullets. 89 grams total, 30-36 mm
Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman. -
Phoenician Terracotta Bulla with a Dolphin
5th century B.C.Estimate: £120 - 170 (‡+bp*)
Bids: 1 | Current Winning Bid: £67
Plano-convex in profile with impressed dolphin and legend. 1.05 grams, 17.71 mm
Acquired in 1994. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s.
This Phoenician terracotta bulla, decorated with a dolphin, reflects the strong maritime identity of the Phoenician world. Bullae were typically used to seal documents or goods, serving both a practical and symbolic function in trade and administration. The dolphin, a creature closely associated with the sea, would have held particular meaning for the Phoenicians, whose culture and prosperity were deeply tied to seafaring and commerce across the Mediterranean. Often seen as a symbol of protection, guidance, and safe passage, the dolphin adds an additional layer of meaning to the object, suggesting not only its use in everyday transactions but also a connection to the wider beliefs and environment of the ancient coastal world. -
Phrygian Silver Bow Brooch
Iron Age, circa 8th-7th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
The bow formed as a stylised animal with teardrop-shaped ears and a long, curving trunk extending as the pin, square footplate with a small loop. 2.93 grams, 16.12 mm
From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s.
