Description:

Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 4th century CE. A handsome cast-bronze bull formed via the cire perdue (lost wax) technique. The stylized animal boasts a simple form while standing atop an integral shallow plinth, with slender legs, a powerful body, a drooping dewlap incised with thin striations, and a curled tail with a bushy tip. The raised head boasts petite circular eyes, a stocky snout, a slender mouth, and a pair of curved horns. The bull was a sacred symbol in ancient Rome, and during the 2nd to 4th centuries, Romans celebrated the taurobolium, when a bull was sacrificed as an offering to ensure the well being of the people and the Roman state. The bull was also involved in the religious cult of the Mithraic mysteries, which spread throughout the Roman Empire. Size: 1.5" L x 1.75" H (3.8 cm x 4.4 cm).

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private H.G. collection, Rhineland-Palatinate, acquired between 1970 and 1999

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#145965

  • Condition: Minor nicks to body, head, and base, with light softening to some finer details, otherwise intact and very good. Light earthen deposits as well as fabulous patina throughout.

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May 9, 2019 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$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 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000