Roman Bronze Lion Head Finial

Statue or frieze fragment with male head modelled in the half-round; circular face with large almond-shaped eyes, heavy brow, thick tousled hair framing the face, drooping moustache and short beard; presented at an oblique angle to the lower face of the block; two mounting holes to the underside. 22.8 kg, 43 cm



Found in Norfolk, UK. Acquired from Michael Booth, 1998. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.

The angle of the face in respect of the block suggests that the head is both tilted and detached, i.e. that it is a tête coupé or severed head. The practice of headhunting is documented among the natives of both Gaul and Britain (and elsewhere) in the Iron Age. The head is then considered to have special powers to avert evil and promote fertility, cure disease and provide other benefits. This is the case with the carved head - a male mask with copious hair and beard - from the Roman baths at Bath, Somerset (the ancient Aquae Sulis) which was a site of worship long before the arrival of a Roman presence in the area (Ross, p.91). The head takes on the character of a deity and is believed to respond favourably to prayer.

Clad in a symmetrically incised late Roman toga, which was originally painted; the right hand covered by the robe and resting against his chest, the now lost left hand probably held a rank symbol or a scroll; short hair, cut according to the style of the Tetrarchy, wide eyes and pronounced lips; beard extended under the chin and on the throat; crepida sandal of Greek typology still visible on the right foot. 700+ kg, 206 cm including base

Fine condition. An impressive museum-quality display piece.

From the C.M. collection, Switzerland. Formerly the property of his father, H.V.C., Munich, Germany; forming a central part of the H.V.C. family collection in the 1980s. Acquired from the private collection of L.H. of Munich, Germany, in 1982. Accompanied by a copy of a German cultural export licence. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. Accompanied by a geological report No. TL3253 by geology consultant Dr R. L. Bonewitz. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12089-211955.

This statue of a Roman magistrate represents a high-ranking citizen with political and ritual responsibilities. The stylised facial features date it to the period of the Tetrachy under the Emperor Diocletian (284-305 A.D.), when representation of the human form began to show a concern for geometry and symmetry. A similar style can be seen in official portraits of Diocletian, Galerius, Constantinus Chlorus, and Maximianus Herculius. Despite the stylisation typical of the era, however, the sculptor of this lot has taken pains to add personal details, such as the dimpled chin and creased forehead. Its powerful resemblance to Imperial portraiture stems from the desire of magistrates to emulate emperors in the way they represented themselves. This is a piece of outstanding quality, and unlike other Late Roman sculptures, in which a portrait head is often attached to an earlier body, it appears to have been created as a whole. It shows exceptional attention to detail, including in the magistrate’s beautifully carved footwear. It is likely to represent an official of an Eastern Empire city, either in Greece or Illyria.

Including P-shaped, T-shaped, La Tène III, and other types. 39 grams total, 2.9-11.1 cm



Ex property of an Essex gentleman. Property of a Scottish collector, acquired in 2013.