Roman Bronze Bow Brooch Colection

Discoid plaque with one polished face, slightly raised rim, incised concentric rings, old label '235' to one side '258' to the other. 127 grams, 10.3 cm



Ex Louis-Gabriel Bellon (1819?-1899), France. Acquired from Jack-Philippe Ruellan, 4 April 2009, no.258.

Carved in the round, the god with long wavy locks escaping from beneath his pointed Phrygian cap; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 24.25 kg total, 41.5 cm including stand



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.

The goddess standing in contrapposto pose with her weight on her left leg, her right leg bent and pulled back; wearing an Ionic chiton and himation secured by a characteristic knot tied between her breasts, the folds cascading to the floor; the toes of her left foot emerging from below the flaring hem of her robe; her centre-parted wavy locks locks fastened with a band, pulled back in a chignon at the nape of her neck and surmounted by a tall modius; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 1.22 kg total, 20.5 cm high (28 cm high including stand)



Acquired in Israel, 1990s. Ex Sasson Ancient Art, Jerusalem. with Christie's, New York, 13 December 2013, no.139 (US$ 50,000-$80,000). Accompanied by a copy of the relevant Christie's catalogue pages. 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. 12017-213617.

These statuettes were used in the service of domestic cults and reflect native Greek or Roman cult practices. The Roman household shrine, or lararium, received its name from the lares, the guardian spirits of the house and household, who were frequently displayed in the shrine, either in painted or sculpted form. This was prevalent in all the corners of the empire, also in the East and in Greece. Studies of bronze statuettes found in Roman provinces have shown how regional variations of lararia figures reflect the mixed religious beliefs of the inhabitants.