Roman Bronze Head of an Emperor

2ND CENTURY A.D.

4 in. (440 grams, 10 cm).

Hollow-formed with long neck, abundant thick hair and beard, broad mouth; probably intended to represent an emperor.

Provenance

Acquired by a Swiss family in the mid-1980s to late 1990s, thence by descent.
Private collection, Switzerland, since the late 1990s.

Literature

Cf. a bronze statue of Hadrian from the Camp of the Sixth Roman Legion in Tel Shalem, 117–138 AD, now in the Israel Museum, Jerusalem, in D'Amato-Negin, Roman Decorated armour, 2017, p.107, fig.103.

Footnotes

The portrait seems to be a provincial bronze representing Hadrian, apparently aged around 30, recognisable from his incipient beard, moustache and distinctive physiognomy. However, the portrait is in an extremely provincial style, exemplified by the wide spacing of the eyes. The beard is lightly incised, and the highly stylised curls around the front of the head give way to simple incised locks on the back.

CONDITION

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LOT 0105