Roman Bronze Horse-Head Mount

2ND-3RD CENTURY A.D.

2 1/2 in. (106 grams, 63 mm).

Hollow-formed mount formed as a crescent with horse-head finial modelled with flying mane and mouth open; to the rear, a deep flared socket with dentilled rim.

Provenance

Acquired on the German art market, 1989-1995.
with The Museum Gallery, 19 Bury Place, London, WC1A 2JB, 1998-2003.
Property of a London based academic, 2003-present.

Literature

Cf. Rolland, H., Bronzes Antiques de Haute Provence, Paris, 1965, item 250, for similar mount.

Footnotes

This is beautiful Roman workmanship, probably derived from Hellenistic prototypes, which finds comparisons in similar mounts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the British Museum. It could be a bed mount (for bed or triclinium) or a furniture element. It is also possible that it was a cart or chariot element.

CONDITION

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LOT 0125