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LOT 0840
Roman Marble Eagle Head
1ST-4TH CENTURY A.D.
9 in. (1.88 kg total, 23 cm high including stand).
Carved facing left, with deep-set hooded eyes and a hooked beak, stylised feather detailing to the head; mounted on a custom-made display base.
ProvenanceEx Simmons Gallery, London E11, UK.
Ex London collection, 1980s-1990s.
Cf. for a similar colossal marble eagle Bell, G.L., Amurath to Amurath, London, 1911, fig.3, p.10; Mendel, G., Catalogue des sculptures grecques, romaines et byzantines, Constantinople, 1914, nos.1135 (1949), vol.III, p.369; Reinach, S., Répertoire de la statuaire grecque et romaine, Tome III, 1920; Bertelli, G., ‘Amari usque ad mare, Acceptus e magister David a Siponto: nuove acquisizioni’, in Eurasiatica 4, 2016, Università degli Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro”, p. 67, fig. 6.
FootnotesIn the Greco-Roman world, the eagle was the symbol of Zeus. It is most probable that this eagle flanked a statue of the god. A story is bruited abroad to the effect that Zeus, wanting to determine the centre of the world, let eagles fly of equal speed from west and east. The birds, flying in opposite directions, met at Pytho and that marked the central point of the whole world.
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AUCTIONS:
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Carnelian Gemstone with Bust of Zeus
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Opening Bid: £333
The oval intaglio engraved with a bearded head of Zeus or an emperor in profile, bearded, a laurel crown laced behind the neck. 0.68 grams, 15 mm
Acquired in the late 1980s-early 1990s. Important North West London collection.
Zeus, the main god of the Graeco-Roman pantheon, typically has his hair radiating outwards, forming a corona of individual strands. The 2nd century emperor Hadrian was the first bearded Roman emperor, a fashion continued by his successors, creating a representation in connection with the image of the King of the Olympians. -
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With panels to the cloak and horse's body for enamel fill, notched outline to the hair and mane, pin and catchplate to verso. 3.45 grams, 33 mm
Fine condition.
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Miniature vessels including unguentaria in various colours. 56 grams total, 42-83 mm
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