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LOT 0143
Roman Marble Head of a Bearded Man
2ND CENTURY A.D.
10 1/2 in. (13.3 kg, 27 cm).
Carved in the round and probably from a life-size statue or bust of philosopher; depicting an adult male with short tousled hair and a longer 'rim' of wavy tresses at the brow; short curly beard descending to the neck; broad brow with deep-set lentoid eyes; possibly Hadrian, repaired and weather-worn. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceBy repute found near Hadrian's Wall, UK.
From a collection acquired on the UK art market, circa 1999.
From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.
Cf. Frel, J., The J.Paul Getty Museum, Roman Portraits, Malibu, 1981, p.75, for similar; see also similar rendering of beard and moustache on a portrait of Emperor Hadrian, in Hermitage, cf.Vostchinina, A., Le Portrait Romain, Musee de l'Hermitage, Leningrad, 1974, pls.L-LI.
FootnotesThis head of bearded man, from a statue or bust probably representing a philosopher, is very similar to the representation of the Emperor Antoninus Pius, and though not imperial, can be dated to his age. The bust produces a convincing illustration of how faithful subjects tried to resemble their contemporary Caesars. Although damaged and blackened by some fire or bad weather conditions, the bust of man is distinguished by its perfect execution and good craftmanship.
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Roman Gold Ring with Cabochon
3rd-5th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £975
With a triple ropework band, broad shoulders with openwork spirals increasing in size towards the centre; raised circular bezel with twisted wire border, set with a glass cabochon. 5.00 grams, 23.01 mm overall, 16.99 x 16.87 mm internal diameter (approximate size British K, USA 5 1/4, Europe 9.95, Japan 9)
From a private European collection, since 1975. with Christie's, London, 14 April 2011, no.361 (part). Ex New York, USA, collection. Accompanied by a copy of the relevant Christie's catalogue pages. Accompanied by an old cataloguing slip. -
Roman Mosaic Tesserae Group
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
A mixed group of two hundred and fifty single stone tesserae of various colours and sizes. 392 grams total, 8-14 mm
From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent. -
Life-Size Roman Marble Lower Torso
Circa 2nd century A.D.Estimate: £20,000 - 30,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £9,850
Modelled in the round in cream-coloured marble; the hips and right leg of a slender male standing beside a column with the lower part of an animal at the base; the figure modelled with narrow hips and waist in contrapposto stance, genitals removed, muscular leg with slender ankle; adjacent column with remains of a branch or spur at the top, developing to a flared base with a crouching hare or rabbit; mounted on a custom-made stand. 101.4 kg total, 99 cm including stand
Ex Paris collection. French gallery, Paris, 1990-2000s. 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 number no.12088-213904.
Despite the loss, the semi-circular rise that separated the ribcage from the abdomen highlights the muscles of a young athlete or a hero. The statue could represent many male heroes or deities (Reinach, 1897, p.210 no.2, 817 no.4), but, by comparison with a similar sculpture in the Brussels Museum, it could refer to a rare image of the handsome and ferocious hunter Hippolytus, son of Theseus and the Amazon Antiope, killed by the curse of his father due to Phaedra’s deception. The presence of the small hare or rabbit at the base of the column could confirm the hypothesis of a hunter hero, and finds its parallel with the small animals (gecko and panther) visible on the Brussels sculpture.
