Lot 33B
Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 3rd to 4th century CE. Finely carved from a single piece of marble, a majestic eagle perched upon a rectangular plinth with wings crossed over the tailfeathers. The bird of prey presents a noble visage with large, almond-shaped eyes, a pointed beak, and downturned mouth - as well as a robust body with feathers that densely cover the neck, breast, legs, and wings. The sculptor of this piece went to immense lengths to delineate the bird's plumage! Size: 17" L (43.2 cm); custom display stand included.
The eagle was a highly symbolic animal among the Roman military and was a great symbol of pride and victory in the eyes of the legions. Known as "aquila" in Latin, the eagle was a representation of honor, victory, and cohesiveness within a legion. One member of each legion was referred to as an aquilifer, or "eagle-bearer," as it was their primary duty to carry and protect that legion's designated eagle standard. If ever an aquila was lost or stolen, it was the primary obligation of the aquilifer to go to any lengths to recover the standard and see to its safe return. Losing an eagle standard was considered a grave omen for its respective legion and would typically lead to distrust and paranoia among the legionaries. To quote a piece of historical fiction set in Roman Britain entitled The Eagle of the Ninth (Rosemary Sutcliff, 1954), "Eagle lost, honor lost; honor lost, all lost."
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Christie's New York, June 2006, Lot 291; ex-Sotheby's London, July 8, 1991, lot 382; ex-Estate collection of George R. Francour, Chicago, USA
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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.
#170389
- Condition: Portion of front pedestal and right leg are missing, and these are older losses from antiquity. Minor chip to base. Nice honey color patina and overall good ancient surface.
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