Loading, please wait...

Use mousewheel to zoom in and out, click to enlarge

Details

LOT 0693

Roman Bronze Looped Figural Pendant with Phallus

CIRCA 1ST CENTURY A.D.

3 1/4 in. (53 grams, 83 mm).

Composed of three concentric circles surmounted by a bearded figure to which is attached a suspension ring, the body of the figure engraved and ending with phallic attributes. [No Reserve]

Provenance

Acquired before 2000.
From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.

Literature

Cf. Fernández González, J.J., ‘Around Eras del Bosque (Palencia) and the pieces of harness from the Roman Necropolis’ in Oppidum, Cuadernos de investigaciόn, no.17, Segovia, 2021, pp.61-76, fig.7, for similar harness pendant.

Footnotes

Roman military harness included pendants of various typology, ranging from lunules to other decorative elements, often phallic, with the possible intention of protecting the animal. This particular pendant could be connected to the bearded image of the god Priapus.

CONDITION

VETTING:

TimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process


AUCTIONS:

TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.

LOT 0693

Roman Bronze Looped Figural Pendant with Phallus

Sold for (Inc. bp): £286

Print page

RELATED LOTS

  • Roman and Byzantine Bronze Ring Group
    Roman and Byzantine Bronze Ring Group
    Circa 3rd-16th century A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £111

    Including trumpet-bezel, square bezel, ellipsoid bezel and other types. 25 grams total, 15-24 mm



    Ex C. Sullivan collection, UK, 1990s.

    Lot Details

  • Romano-British Published Bronze Gaming Counter
    Romano-British 'Published' Bronze Gaming Counter
    Circa 1st century A.D. or later

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £293

    Discoid in form with twelve impressed dots, two parallel lines and one perpendicular. 4.5 grams, 18 mm



    Found Cirencester, UK, prior to 1999. Acquired 4 February 1999. From the important private collection of dice and gaming pieces of Colin Narbeth, London, UK, collection no.59. Accompanied by a copy of the relevant Celtic & Roman Artefacts book pages where this object is published.

    Lot Details

  • Roman Bronze Wild Boar Chariot Fitting Pair
    Roman Bronze Wild Boar Chariot Fitting Pair
    Circa 2nd-3rd century A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,950

    Matched pair of chariot fittings, each formed as the head and forelegs of a boar with open mouth and prominent tusks, developing to a crescentic square-section body with knop finial, supported on a column and square-section tiered base; mounted on custom-made display stands. 1.13 kg total, 22.5 cm high including stand



    Ex Ancient Art, North London, UK. 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. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12058-212073.

    The fittings were possibly part of a decoration of a Thraco-Roman chariot. Sometimes the ends of the yokes were covered with bronze toppers geometrically shaped or decorated with figures of a lion, a wild boar (our example), a goat, etc. Often, instead of these toppers, there were the so-called bronze distributors. Some were without decoration and others had geometric decoration. The most common ones were those sculpted as two opposing panthers (rarely lions).

    Lot Details

Stay up-to-date with the latest from TimeLine Auctions by joining our mailing list