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LOT 0146
Roman Bronze Winged Eros
1ST CENTURY A.D.
7 1/2 in. (1.38 kg total, 19 cm wide).
Modelled in the round in kneeling pose, nude, with the fingers of his left hand spread across his bent knee, head turned to the right and slightly tilted upwards; two large dorsal wings spread; the face fleshy with small eyes and nose, the hair with a wreath of curls framing the face; attachment panel behind the shoulders; mounted on a custom-made display stand.
ProvenanceEx F. Philips, Netherlands, before 1980s.
with Jan Roelofs Antiquaries, Netherlands.
Acquired on the European art market, 2023.
Private collection, London.
Accompanied by an academic report by Prof. Neritan Ceka.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12930-245218.
Cf. Rolland, H., Bronzes Antiques De Haute Provence, Paris, 1965, items 112-118, for less exuberant examples of Eros imagery.
FootnotesThe image of the winged Eros held a special significance in Roman culture, embodying not only the god of love but also the elegance, refinement, and sophistication of the Classical tradition. His wings symbolised the fleeting nature of passion, while his youthful form carried connotations of vitality and beauty. To incorporate Eros into the decoration of luxury objects was to invoke divine favour and to align oneself with the cultivated ideals of the Graeco-Roman world. Bronzes of the 1st century A.D. represent the height of Roman metalworking, when elite households and sanctuaries commissioned works of remarkable artistry. Fittings such as this, finely cast and intended for a prestigious vessel, were both functional and symbolic: practical elements elevated to expressions of status and taste. Surviving examples are a testament to the technical mastery of Roman workshops and the desire of their patrons to surround themselves with imagery of the gods in even the smallest details of daily life.
CONDITIONTimeLine 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
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Roman to Medieval Bronze Ring Group
1st-16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
Comprising twelve rings, most with a decorative bezel. 63.1 grams total, 20-24 mm
Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman. -
Roman Sard Gemstone of a Panther
1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £5,460
With intaglio profile image of a large cat prone to the left; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 0.32 grams, 11 mm
Private English collection, formed between the late 1970s and early 1990s. Private collection, London, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12951-246458.
This depiction clearly belongs to a series of renderings of felines as the mounts, draught animals, and companions of Dionysus/Bacchus, and of the personages connected with him. Lions, panthers and leopards are among the attributes of the god Bacchus and a part of his thiasos (retinue). -
Roman Glass Bottle
1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
Comprising a tapering round-section body with narrow shoulder and flared neck, median bulb with pinched flanges; supplied with a custom-made stand. 20.5 grams, 13.4 cm (82.2 grams total, 15.2 cm including stand)
From an important London collection of glass, 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Examples of similar form have been found in the Western Provinces of the Roman Empire, particularly from the grave 12 in the Liverpool Sotto Cemetery at Muralto Locarno, Canton Ticino, Switzerland. The archaeologist assign it to the period between A.D.20 and 50.
