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_900x900.jpg "Iron Age Celtic Sandstone Head")
_200x200.jpg "Iron Age Celtic Sandstone Head")
.jpg "Iron Age Celtic Sandstone Head")
LOT 0364
Iron Age Celtic Sandstone Head
2ND CENTURY B.C.-1ST CENTURY A.D.
8 5/8 in. (5 kg total, 22 cm high including stand).
Carved in the round as a male head with triangular chin and jaw, broad square brow, lentoid eyes, reserved scrolled ears; mounted on a custom-made stand. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000.
From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.
Cf. Petch, M., Celtic Stone Sculptures, London, 1989, fig.1, for type.
FootnotesThe cult of the human head was prevalent in the Celtic world, being associated with warding-off evil spirits and bearing of good luck.
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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Iron Age British Celtic Bronze Cosmetic Implement
Circa 1st century B.C.-1st century A.D.Estimate: £100 - 140 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £50
A nail-cleaner comprising a flat blade, waisted stem and conical bulb with band of ring-and-dot motifs alternating with double pellets, gusseted bulb and ovoid finial with hatching; mounted on a custom-made stand. 22.2 grams total, 58 mm including stand
Found East Anglia, UK; before 2000. Acquired in the 2000s. From the private collection of John Lawton, Surrey, UK. Accompanied by a copy of a previous catalogue information page. -
Iron Age Celtic Bronze Mirror Handle
Circa 1st century B.C.-1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
Two fragments from a decorative mirror handle comprising a portion of the shank formed as two loops joined by a transverse disc, and a bifacial finial with volute scroll enclosing three domed discs (reversed and three round sockets for enamelled studs (obverse). 132 grams total, 46-67 mm
From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent. -
Romano-British Enamelled Bronze Mirror Handle
1st-2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,080
Flat in section with crescentic upper end and scrolled lower end, the surface formed with symmetrically placed low-relief palmettes, vine tendrils with grapes and foliage, reserved against the field enamelled in green, dark blue and red. 94 grams, 13 cm
Very good condition.
Acquired in the early 1980s. with Edward Smith, USA. From the collection of a Connecticut, USA, collector. with TimeLine Auctions, 23 May 2017, no.251. Private American collection, New York, USA. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11994-210999.
This could be an example of a Romano-British bronze and enamel handle from a mirror or patera, similar to some other existing examples in museums. The shape of the handle is similar to one of the famous pateras from Pompeii. Our specimen is decorated with 'Celtic-style' motifs consisting of a curvilinear scrollwork design of turquoise and blue enamel. A bowl with almost identical enamel work was found in Staffordshire, known as 'The Staffordshire Pan' (WMID-3FE965), while a complete patera was excavated in Amiens (known as the Amiens Patera).
