Description:

Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 2nd century CE. A wonderful solid-cast bronze bull, captured in a naturalistic pose, striding forward with his head held in front and turned slightly to the left. The animal's details are veristically delineated with rippling musculature, a sinuous tail draped down its hind legs, a rippling dewlap, ears horizontal below his horns, and a powerful body. The mammal is covered in layers of lustrous green, tan, and russet patina. Size: 2.875" L x 2" W (7.3 cm x 5.1 cm).

The bull has a significant history in the ancient world, with representations from every culture, from the Minoans, to the Egyptians, and to the Greeks and Romans. The bull was central to the Roman's cult of Mithras with their central tenant of tauroctony, the sacred slaying of the bull.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

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#137204

  • Condition: Surface wear and minor abrasions commensurate with age, losses to majority of both horns, fading to some finer features, and minor roughness across most surfaces. Light earthen deposits and great patina throughout.

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August 30, 2018 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$5,000 $9,999 $500
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$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000