Roman Bone Gaming Dice Pair

Depicted as lar and modelled nude in a standing pose with the right hand resting on the handle of his club, left arms supporting the lionskin mantle; hair cut short and beard textured. 715 grams, 15.5 cm



Acquired on the UK art market, 1990s. Private 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.13295-255447.

The position of our statuette, belonging to the typology of ‘resting’ Hercules, is unconventional, probably belonging to a more archaic period prototype (Reinach, 1897, p.211,7). By the late 300s or early 200s B.C., the depiction of Herakles wearing the lion's skin over his head had gone out of favour in Greek art. A worshipper probably placed this statuette in a sanctuary as an offering to the deity, or in his house as a housekeeper and protector. The vast majority of the small Heracles statuettes are, of course, ex-votos, and the donors were most likely herdsmen practising transhumance, considering his function as protector of the flocks. Statuettes of the god found in provinces like Gallia, Britannia, or Pannonia might have been appealed to Italic soldiers serving further north and could easily have been carried with them on campaign.

Lentoid-section annular type with diagonal barleytwist construction; iridescence to the outer face. 7.9 grams, 56 mm



From the private collection of Mr Brian Edwards, New Malden, Surrey, UK, formed from the late 1970s-early 1980s; thence by descent. Accompanied by the original collector's data sheet(s) with reference no.A177.

With onion-knop apex finial and knops on either side, claw detailing to the headplate, deep bow, chamfered lateral faces sections to the foot with scroll detailing, hinged pin to the reverse. 78 grams, 85 mm



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.