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Details

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]

Provenance

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.

Literature

Cf. Petch, M., Celtic Stone Sculptures, London, 1989, fig.1, for type.

Footnotes

The cult of the human head was prevalent in the Celtic world, being associated with warding-off evil spirits and bearing of good luck.

CONDITION

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AUCTIONS:

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LOT 0364

Iron Age Celtic Sandstone Head

Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,690

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