Roman Bronze Statue of a Bear Killing a Deer

1ST-2ND CENTURY A.D.

4 in. (398 grams, 10 cm).

On a stepped triangular base, bear with head raised, forepaws round the neck of a deer with legs folded beneath the body.

Provenance

Nicolas Koutoulakis (1910-1996).
Private collection of Mr K.A.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12398-226600.

Literature

Cf. Avissar, M. "Lod–A Mosaic Floor," in Excavations and Surveys in Israel 17, 1998, pp. 169–172.

Footnotes

Combat between large animals was a popular theme in Roman art. The staging of such fights in the Flavian Amphitheatre in the heart of Rome is evidenced. Furthermore, the 3rd-4th century A.D. mosaic floor unearthed at Lod, Israel, in 1996 shows several scenes with ferocious wild animal - a lion and lioness, an elephant, a giraffe, a rhinoceros, a tiger, and a wild bull - all arranging themselves for a colossal fight to the death. The mosaic was lifted intact and is on display in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

CONDITION

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LOT 0176