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LOT 0767
Roman Silver Bird Statuette
1ST-4TH CENTURY A.D.
3/4 in. (3.63 grams, 21 mm wide).
Modelled in the round with naturalistic detailing, with two legs held together, likely not a pin finial.
Provenance‘The Ancient Menagerie Collection’ formerly the property of a Cambridgeshire lady, collected since the 1990s and acquired from auctions and dealers throughout Europe and the USA, now ex London collection.
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
AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0767
Roman Silver Bird Statuette
Estimate £60 - 80€70 - 93 (for guidance only)$81 - 108 (for guidance only)
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Roman Chalcedony Gemstone with Aphrodite Kallipygos
1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £910
The goddess seen from behind, drapery around her legs, resting her left hand on a column and holding up an object in her right hand. 0.84 grams, 12 mm
Acquired in the late 1980s-early 1990s. Important North West London collection.
The famous statue of Aphrodite Kallipygos, the model for this gemstone, recalls a story reported in the Deipnosophists of Athenaeus regarding the foundation of a temple to her in ancient Syracuse. According to Athenaeus, two beautiful sisters from a farm near Syracuse quarrelled over which of them had the most shapely buttocks, and approached a young passer-by to judge. They showed themselves to the traveller, the son of a rich man, and he voted for the older sister. Later, he fell in love with her and fell ill with lovesickness. Upon learning of what had happened, the man's younger brother went to see the girls and fell in love with the younger sister. Consequently the brothers refused to consider any other brides forcing the father to arrange for the sisters to come and marry them. The townspeople nicknamed the sisters ‘Kallipygoi’ (‘Women with Beautiful Behinds’) and the young men, with their newfound prosperity, dedicated a temple to Aphrodite, naming her ‘Kallipygos’. -
Roman Burnt Carnelian Gemstone with Mars and Minerva
1st-2nd century A.D.Estimate: £800 - 1,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £444
The oval intaglio with Mars Ultor and Minerva facing each other; Mars to the left with a spear in raised left hand, armed with helmet, armour and sword, his right hand resting on the shield beside him; Minerva to the right, wearing a helmet, shield and aegis. 0.87 grams, 14 mm
Acquired in the late 1980s-early 1990s. Important North West London collection.
Mars Ultor and Minerva were both linked with Roman war imagery. Mars represented military power, the strength of the army and violence in battle, Minerva strategy, tactics and intelligence in war. All these qualities were complementary and necessary to win the war. The gemstone was probably a gift for a soldier. -
Roman Bronze Sitting Dog Statuette
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
Modelled in the round with naturalistic detailing including collar, seated on a sub-rectangular base. 11 grams, 32 mm
‘The Ancient Menagerie Collection’ formerly the property of a Cambridgeshire lady, collected since the 1990s and acquired from auctions and dealers throughout Europe and the USA, now ex London collection.
