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_900x900.jpg "Eastern Greek Marble Figure of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love and Beauty")
_200x200.jpg "Eastern Greek Marble Figure of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love and Beauty")
_900x900.jpg "Eastern Greek Marble Figure of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love and Beauty")
_200x200.jpg "Eastern Greek Marble Figure of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love and Beauty")
.jpg "Eastern Greek Marble Figure of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love and Beauty")
.jpg "Eastern Greek Marble Figure of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love and Beauty")
LOT 0123
Eastern Greek Marble Figure of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love and Beauty
1ST CENTURY B.C.-1ST CENTURY A.D.
12 3/4 in. (1.2 kg, 32.7 cm).
Carved in the round figure of the goddess standing nude with one hand raised and the other on her pudendum, her hair gathered into a chignon with lateral bunches on the crown and with voids to allow for the suspension of small gold earrings; putto at her left knee; left hand partly absent; remounted on a socle base.
ProvenanceAcquired in the 1992.
Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent.
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.12860-241669.
Cf. Reinach, S., Repertoire de la statuarie grecque et romaine, Paris, 1930, pp.334ff., and especially no.7 of p.334.
FootnotesAphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, was one of the most widely worshipped deities in the ancient world, particularly across the eastern Greek regions of Asia Minor. In these areas, her image often blended traditional Greek ideals with local influences, giving rise to distinctive regional styles. Marble figures such as this would have served not only as works of art but also as expressions of devotion, reflecting both personal piety and broader cultural values surrounding beauty, fertility, and desire. The enduring popularity of Aphrodite’s image speaks to her central role in daily life, where she was invoked not just in matters of love, but also in marriage, prosperity, and well-being.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a 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:
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LOT 0123
Eastern Greek Marble Figure of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love and Beauty
Sold for (Inc. bp): £5,200
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Greek Silver-Gilt Bull Ring
Circa 6th-4th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £715
Annular in form with plaque formed as a parcel-gilt bucranium with solar motif to the brow. 11.25 grams, 27.39 mm overall, 19.38 mm internal diameter (approximate size British P 1/2, USA 7 3/4, Europe 16.86, Japan 16)
From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s. -
Greek Bronze Ring with Dog
3rd-2nd century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Comprising a slender D-section hoop and a lentoid bezel with a stylised dog. 1.24 grams, 18.82 mm overall, 17.27 mm internal diameter (approximate size British N, USA 6 1/2, Europe 13.72, Japan 13)
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*)
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.
