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LOT 0191
Large Gallo-Roman Bronze Statuette of Cupid
1ST-3RD CENTURY A.D.
6 1/4 in. (403 grams, 16 cm high).
Modelled in the round leaping and winged, his right hand reaching above his head seemingly gesturing to retrieve arrows from a quiver once carried on his back, dressed in an exomis tunic leaving him naked below the torso, wearing a helmet or cap and ankle boots.
ProvenanceAcquired in Europe before 1994.
Private collection, Europe.
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 no.11808-206795.
Cf. Daremberg - Saglio, Dictionnaire des Antiquités Grecques et Romaines, Paris, 1873-1917; Rolland, H., Bronzes Antiques De Haute Provence, Paris, 1965, items 112-118, and especially 116bis, for similar Gallo-Roman examples; Boucher, S. and Tassinari, S., Bronzes Antiques I, Inscriptions, Statuaire, Vaisselle, Paris, 1976, p.31, no.23, for similar; Jashemski, W.J., The gardens of Pompeii: Herculaneum and the villas destroyed by Vesuvius, II volumes, New York, 1979.
FootnotesOften the statues of puttos or amorini (small loves) depicting personifications of Eros were covered with gold leaf. This was a frequent practice and the figures, when represented with wings, were known as chrysopteroi, meaning 'with golden wings'.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0191
Large Gallo-Roman Bronze Statuette of Cupid
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000€4,640 - 6,960 (for guidance only)$5,400 - 8,100 (for guidance only)
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Roman Marble Head of a Bearded Man
2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,210
Carved in the round and probably from a life-size statue or bust of philosopher; depicting an adult male with short tousled hair and a longer 'rim' of wavy tresses at the brow; short curly beard descending to the neck; broad brow with deep-set lentoid eyes; possibly Hadrian, repaired and weather-worn. 13.3 kg, 27 cm
By repute found near Hadrian's Wall, UK. From a collection acquired on the UK art market, circa 1999. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.
This head of bearded man, from a statue or bust probably representing a philosopher, is very similar to the representation of the Emperor Antoninus Pius, and though not imperial, can be dated to his age. The bust produces a convincing illustration of how faithful subjects tried to resemble their contemporary Caesars. Although damaged and blackened by some fire or bad weather conditions, the bust of man is distinguished by its perfect execution and good craftmanship. -
Roman Translucent Glass Bottle
1st-2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
Having piriform-globular body and everted rim, tubular neck and flat base with small kick. 20 grams, 11.5 cm high
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
The bottle seems to belong to the type 13 of the De Tommaso classification, but with a more piriform body. By the 1st century A.D., the technique of glass-blowing revolutionised the art of glass-making and allowed for the production of small medicine, incense, and perfume containers in new forms. Glass unguentaria, bottles and vessels of various shapes were manufactured with blow-pipes, free-blown, or mould-blown, and were prevalent throughout the all the provinces of the huge empire. -
Roman Silver Lunar Pendant
3rd-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £150
With tapering round-section arms and ribbed suspension loop. 1.88 grams, 22 mm
Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman.