Description:

Rome, ca. 1st century CE. A large example of the staff finial of Pluto - the bident. The bident has a strong place in Roman mythology, being closely associated with Pluto, and also with connections to Jupiter. The twin prongs could have a deeper meaning, serving as homage to the ancient Minoan symbol of the "Horns of Consecration," a symbol of the sun rising daily and fertility. This creates an interesting binary between the Plutonic association with the underworld and death, and the symbol of life with the continuously rising and setting of the sun. This piece is composed of a stacked hollow shaft with two holes on either side for mounting on a staff. The prongs are made of a single piece of bronze which meet in the center of the staff and descend down to the shaft. Beautiful Green patina. 19"H x 6-3/4"W. Custom stand. Provenance: Ex-David Newton Estate, TX. All items in this auction have been legally acquired, are legal to sell, and guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids, papered by our parent company, Artemis Gallery Ancient Art. The starting price is the lowest price at which the lot can sell.

  • Condition: Professional repair to top knob of shaft, else excellent. Rare example!

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October 10, 2013 9:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$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 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000