Loading, please wait...
LOT 0052
Greek Bronze Statuette of an Alexandrian Dancing Dwarf
HELLENISTIC, 1ST CENTURY B.C.-1ST CENTURY A.D.
5 7/8 in. (295 grams total, 15 cm high imcluding stand).
In an active pose with both legs bent and left arm raised dramatically, head tilted to the left; exaggerated facial features, short trimmed hair, slim body with developed pectoral muscles and pronounced kyphosis; mounted on a columnar stand.
ProvenanceBelgian private art collection of M.A., Brussels, Belgium, 1995.
with Gorny and Mosch, 14 December 2011, no.82.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13330-258951.
Cf. bronze figure of a dwarfd dancing in the British Museum under accession no. 1875,0517.103; cf. also Bolla, M., ‘Nani e pigmei nella piccola plastica in bronzo dell’Italia Settentrionale’ in Leger, C., Raux, S., Des objects et des hommes, Ėtudes offertes a Michel Feugère, Drémil-Lafage, 2021, pp.163-171, fig.4, for the image of a dancing dwarf.
FootnotesSuch figures are often described as ‘grotesques’, yet typically constituted overstated representations of people with dwarfism. Such individuals are invariably shown with exaggerated features such as pot bellies, hunched backs, bald heads, large phalli and angry facial expressions.
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:
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 0052
Greek Bronze Statuette of an Alexandrian Dancing Dwarf
Estimate £3,000 - 4,000€3,480 - 4,640 (for guidance only)$4,050 - 5,400 (for guidance only)
-
Graeco-Roman Bronze Ring with Bust of Athena
Circa 1st century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
D-section hoop with stepped rims and trefoil shoulders, cuboid bezel with incuse profile bust of Athena to the upper face. 10.19 grams, 27.01 mm overall, 17.71 mm internal diameter (approximate size British O 1/2, USA 7 1/4, Europe 15.61, Japan 15)
Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman. -
Greek Iron Spectacle Brooch with Pin
Iron Age, circa 4th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
Formed as a single rod in two large tightly-wound coils with integral pin and catch to reverse. 48.3 grams, 10.8 cm
From a UK collection formed in the 1980s. Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman. -
.jpg)
Etruscan Amber Head Pendant
Etruria, 5th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,210
Carved from translucent red-brown amber as a profile head with stylised Archaic features, large almond eye beneath a defined brow ridge, a softly smiling mouth, and carefully delineated hair arranged in striated bands sweeping back from the face; a drilled perforation at the crown indicates its original function as a suspended ornament; accompanied by a display stand. 23 grams, 50 mm (242 grams total, 81 mm including stand)
Sotheby's, London, 14-15 December 1981, no.206. American private collection; acquired at the above sale. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13329-257968.
Amber was a prestigious imported material in Etruria, highly prized for its rarity, colour, and perceived apotropaic power. From the late 6th century B.C. onwards, figured amber pendants appear in elite tombs, particularly those of women, reflecting both personal identity and a protective role within funerary belief systems. The prominent, wide-open eye here may have served as a talismanic motif, thought to ward off malign forces and ensure the wearer’s vigilance and well-being in life and beyond the grave. This piece reflects the distinctive aesthetic of Etruscan amber carving, in which Mediterranean influences are reinterpreted with a locally expressive sculptural style.
