Lot 24
Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A delightful bronze statue of a bear, cast using the lost-wax process and depicted in stride on a rectangular plinth. Careful attention has been paid to her unruly coat, which is comprised of thick, shaggy tufts of hair that envelop her slender form. The adorable animal displays a slouching gait as she tilts her head slightly right in a life-like manner, as though something has caught her eye. Capped by a pair of rounded ears, her expressive visage features annular eyes, a protruding snout, and a partially opened mouth. Size: 2.7" W x 2.3" H (6.9 cm x 5.8 cm); 3.3" H (8.4 cm) on included custom stand.
According to the Getty Institute of Art, "Native to Italy and to most other parts of the Roman Empire, including Asia Minor and Africa, bears were a part of life in the Roman world. They were hunted for sport in the wild, captured live, and then killed in staged hunts that were part of elaborate civic spectacles. They were also occasionally kept as exotic pets. Bear hunting as a sport was the province of the nobility and in the 100s A.D., under the influence of the emperor Hadrian's enthusiasm for the sport, its popularity increased. The symbolism of the hunt emphasized strength and bravery; the fierceness and nobility of this beast asserted the courage and power of the man able to slay him."
Provenance: private Marysville, California, USA collection; ex-Artemis Gallery, Louisville, Colorado, USA, October 25, 2018, lot 53C; ex-private East Coast, USA collection
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Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#171151
- Condition: Expected light abrasions and softening of detail as shown. Intact and excellent with nice preservation of form and rich patina.
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