Description:

Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A charming cast bronze bird, probably a pigeon or dove, shown in a seated position with its wings held tight against its body and its short-beaked head tilted slightly upward. A small iron attachment low on its body gives an idea of how this item was used - as a decorative attachment to something, possibly a casket or vessel. Pigeons (doves) were incredibly popular in ancient Rome - Pliny records a "mania" for pigeons, with people constructing elaborate dovecotes (columbaria) atop their houses to keep the birds. Varro's Rerum Rusticarum describes the breeding and keeping of pigeons, mostly for the table, and kept in a peristeron or peristerotrophion, which could hold up to five thousand of the birds. Size: 1.4" W x 1.5" H (3.6 cm x 3.8 cm); 1.75" H (4.4 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

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PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

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.

#142834

  • Condition: Lower front end has a loss as shown. Otherwise in fine condition with clear form and details, rich deposits in lower profile areas, and light wear commensurate with age.

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April 14, 2022 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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