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LOT 0754
Roman Equine Protome
2ND-4TH CENTURY A.D.
2 1/4 in. (55 grams, 57 mm).
A bronze zoomorphic equine protome formed as the forequarters of a galloping horse, with a round-section body and semi-naturalistic detailing to the head and mane; perforation to the upper edge of the body for attachment.
ProvenanceFound UK.
Acquired in the 1970s, Yorkshire, UK.
Property of a Bedfordshire, UK, gentleman.
See Rolland, H., Bronzes Antiques De Haute Provence, Paris, 1965, items 400-401, for comparable examples.
FootnotesThe bronze equine protome belongs to a well-known category of objects used to fasten caskets or furniture with animal protomes, especially panthers and horses, animals connected to the procession of the god Dionysus.
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AUCTIONS:
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Roman Phallic Amulet
1st-3rd century A.D.Estimate: £300 - 400 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £150
A bronze pendant comprising male genitals flanked by stubby phalloi above, pierced suspension lug. 19.1 grams, 34 mm
Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private Swiss collection since 1998. -
Roman Military Diploma Fragments
2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
A pair of bifacial bronze military diploma fragments bearing Latin text: fragment A, side 1: 'CAEL[IBES] / DVM [TAXAT]'; side 2: 'NI[- - -] MAX'; fragment B, side 1: 'RNESE / CVS'; side 2: 'AL[- - - / - - -] LL'. 7.13 grams total, 21-32 mm
Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.
Stylistically, the diploma seems connected with the empire of Hadrian, based in style used in letters M and A. The text of the extrinsecus can be partially reconstructed in the sentences ANTO{NI}NUS AVGVSTVS PONTIFEX {MAX}IMUS... AVT SIQUI {CAEL}IBES ESSENT CUM IIS QUAS POSTEA DUXISSENT {DUM}TAXAT SINGULI SINGULAS (...if they were in celibate then, to the maximum limit of only one (wife) for each...). The diploma gives 'HONESTA MISSIO' (honourable discharge) and Roman citizenship to the veterans of an unknown unit, also granting them permission to marry. The text of the internal side (intus) should report the dating, and the names of the soldiers and witnesses. -
Roman Asclepius Gemstone in Gold Ring
2nd-3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £910
A carnelian intaglio of Asclepius in a loosely draped himation with serpent coiled around his forearm, probably Asclepius the Greek god of healing; set into a later gold ring. 4.99 grams, 23.32 mm overall, 16.68 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L 1/2, USA 6, Europe 11.87, Japan 11)
Ex private East Coast, USA, collection. with Artemis Gallery, Colorado, USA, 21 February 2017. English private collection. Accompanied by a copy of a certificate of authenticity from Artemis Gallery, dated 21 February 2017.
Asclepius was the Graeco-Roman god of medicine, healing, prophecy and a son of Apollo and Coronis. He had two daughters with Epione, the goddess of soothing- Hygeia (goddess of health) and Panacea (goddess of healing). As a child, Asclepius was given to the centaur Chiron, who raised him in the ways of the healing arts. During his training, Asclepius healed a snake, which in turn granted him secret knowledge. Asclepius became such a proficient healer that he discovered a way to resurrect the dead, for which Zeus had him killed, in order to maintain the balance of life on Earth, placing him on the night sky under the constellation of the Ophiuchus (the snake holder).
