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LOT 0131
Roman Bronze Military Monkey
4TH CENTURY A.D.
1 3/8 in. (23.9 grams, 34 mm).
Modelled seated on a polygonal base wearing a paenula, the right hand placed on the left shoulder, head tilted to one side, right hand placed on a stela or lantern.
Provenance‘The Ancient Menagerie Collection’ formerly the property of a Cambridgeshire lady, collected since the 1990s and acquired from auctions and dealers throughout Europe and the USA, now ex London collection.
LiteratureSee Rolland, H., Bronzes Antiques De Haute Provence, Paris, 1965, item 262, for a Roman example of small ape statuette.
FootnotesThe monkey is bearing a military sagum with cucullus and is holding beside him a squared lucerna. This representation can be a Roman military mascot or simply a grotesque. In 2001 in Spain, at Llivia, remains of Barbary apes with military belt buckles typically related to the late Roman period were discovered. The discovery of this type of belt buckle in a human grave would suggest that they were once a part of this army, so the fact that some were given to a Barbary ape means that the apes played a military role, for example, acted as targets to distract the enemy, or were used in type of a combat or for defence. Apes were also a very common form of pet in the Graeco-Roman world.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0131
Roman Bronze Military Monkey
Estimate £800 - 1,000€930 - 1,160 (for guidance only)$1,080 - 1,350 (for guidance only)
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Roman Bronze Long-Haired Dog
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £910
Modelled in an attack pose with semi-naturalistic anatomical and shaggy hair detailing. 61 grams, 62 mm
‘The Ancient Menagerie Collection’ formerly the property of a Cambridgeshire lady, collected since the 1990s and acquired from auctions and dealers throughout Europe and the USA, now ex London collection. -
Roman to Post Medieval Bronze Ring Collection
1st-19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £390
Composed of rings of various types and sizes, including bezels with decorative geometric, zoomorphic and enamelled designs. 75 grams total, 16-26 mm
Acquired on the German art market around 2000. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman. -
Roman Bronze Oinochoe with Lion Protome
1st century B.C.-1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,680
The conical body decorated with overlapping petal-shaped panels, tapering neck with a wide spout, high arching handle with acanthus leaves, bust of a youthful male with long hair below (possibly Bacchus) the upper part terminating with a lion protome with the extended forelegs resting on the rim of the vessel, the high flaring foot possibly added later. 797 grams, 22.5 cm high
Excellent condition
Private collection, Rosenheim, Germany, 1960s. 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 no.11734-201200.
Considering the primary function of oinochoe as drinking jugs, the images decorating them were often related to the god of wine, Bacchus, here probably represented as young Dionysus accompanied by a lion.
