Loading, please wait...
Details
LOT 0683
'The Kempsey' Roman Bronze Military Eagle Statuette
CIRCA 43-410 A.D.
3 in. (180 grams total, 76 mm high including stand).
Modelled in the round as a standing eagle with its wings spread, the overlapping wingtips covering the short tail; incised feather detailing to the body and wings, wide head with detailed eyes, remains of a military insignia (a victory wreath or fish?) held in its hooked beak; mounted on a custom-made display stand. [No Reserve]
Provenance
Found Kempsey, Malvern Hills, Worcestershire, UK.
Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.WAW-19C7C8.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Literature
See Portable Antiquities Scheme nos. HAMP-5ED544, WAW-7EC54A and DENO-323D62, for similar examples; Rolland, H., Bronzes Antiques de Haute Provence, Paris, 1965, item 268.
Footnotes
Both Ovid and Plutarch place the inception of manipular ensigns with Romulus, where bundles (manipuli) of hay were tied to high poles which served as rallying points for units of the army. Eventually, icons of animals replaced these ensigns: the eagle, wolf, Minotaur, horse, and boar. In 107 B.C., Gaius Marius made sweeping military reforms and the Aquila became the sole standard of the legion, which according to (Pliny NH. 10.5.16) ‘By making the Aquila the standard for all legions improved unity and gave soldiers a symbol that expressed their attachment to an all-encompassing body, to which the soldiers’ loyalty could be directed’. Due to its place at the head of each legion, it became the emblem of the Roman legions, which enforced Roman rule in the provinces, giving the eagle its connotation of dominion.
CONDITIONVETTING:
TimeLine 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:
TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.
RELATED LOTS
-
Late Roman Decorated Bronze Bracelet
4th-5th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
Rectangular-section penannular body with flared terminals, linear and ring-and-dot decoration to the terminals. 13.2 grams, 52 mm
Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Roman Marble Statue Base with Feet
1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,600
Fragment of an elliptical base for a statuary group, with gusset to the forward edge; upper face with two pairs of bare human feet modelled in the half-round, with the left foot of the right pair placed before the right foot of the other pair, suggesting a family group (e.g. parents with baby in their arms) standing very close to each other; mounted on a custom-made stand. 6.2 kg total, 38.5 cm including stand
Pierre Sciclounoff collection, acquired in 1970. Byron Zoumboulakis collection, acquired in 1986. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate, dated 11 August 2004. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12673-234639. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Pierre Sciclounoff was a noted 20th century collector with a particular interest in classical and Near Eastern antiquities. His collection was widely regarded for its scholarly depth and was formed during a period of active collecting in Europe during the post-war decades. Byron Zoumboulakis, a prominent Greek collector and art dealer, is known for his extensive contributions to the art world through the Zoumboulakis Galleries in Athens, established by his family. His collection spans antiquities, modern, and contemporary art, and he has played a key role in promoting cultural heritage in Greece. -
Roman Iridescent Glass Vessel with Spiral Trail
2nd-3rd century A.D.Estimate: £250 - 350 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £139
Bulbous body with long funicular neck and everted rim, applied strap handles to the top, applied spiral decoration to the body. 14.6 grams, 76 mm
Ex London gallery, UK, 1986. Ex private UK collection. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.