Lot 60
Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A bronze equestrian statuette, skillfully cast by the lost wax (cire perdue) technique, and with a seated rider cast separately but clearly intended to be part of a similar statuette. The rider may represent an emperor or an idealized athlete. The horse's pose is dynamic, captured by the sculptor in motion as he lifts one leg in a prance; his mane and tail are rigid, as if this is meant to be a horse who was well cared-for. The man is also shown dynamically, leaning forward with one hand resting on the mane and another back, made into an open fist, as if he once held some accessory; he wears a crown of laurel leaves. Size together (as shown in photos): 3.2" W x 3.7" H (8.1 cm x 9.4 cm); 4.2" H (10.7 cm) on included custom stand.
Although equestrian statues of emperors were common sights in ancient Rome (historic sources suggest there were at least 22 of these so-called "great horses" or equi magni), few other than the Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius (ca. 173 to 176 CE) have survived. Such horse and rider statues were political devices revering the emperor and his military and civic achievements, strategically placed in the empire to pay homage to his excellency. The likenesses of these statues were also copied on coins in order to widely disseminate imagery honoring specific emperors.
Provenance: private Davis Collection, Houston, Texas, USA
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.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#132814
- Condition: Horse and rider are originally from different statues, but are contemporary. Beautiful turquoise patina on the horse and a pale green patina on the rider; both figures have nicely preserved details.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Shipping
Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense
Artemis Fine Arts
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.
View full terms and conditions
| 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 |