Description:

Roman Phoenicia, ca. 1st century BCE. A powerful hollow silver figure, depicting a large lion attacking a bull. The lion is caught in mid-flight, its muscular, athletic body stretched out long and with its front paws wrapped around the head and neck of the bull. The bull collapses to its front, its head thrown back along the lion's side, its back end flying into the air with the force of the lion's leap. The texture of the bull's head and neck as well as the lion's mane are beautifully rendered, adding lifelike details to the figure. The symbolism of power and hunting prowess is unmistakable, and whoever owned this must have held these qualities in high regard. The scene may have been inspired by the frieze of a similar scene at Persepolis. Size: 3.3" W x 0.9" H (8.4 cm x 2.3 cm); 1.4" H (3.6 cm) on included custom stand; 24.8 grams

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-private Beverly Hills, California, USA collection, acquired before 1980; ex-Manukyan Family collection, Turkey, acquired in the 1960s

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#146616

  • Condition: A few small losses/tiny punctures on surface, mainly on underside. Light patina and slight bending to form.

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May 22, 2019 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000