Lot 60B
Roman, Early Imperial Period, possibly from Roman Tunisia, ca. 1st to 2nd century CE. An incredible stone mosaic of a horse's head, shown in profile, wearing a bridle with headband, noseband, and reins. The horse is depicted with a large, sensitive eye and a flowing mane composed of many colors, giving the impression of sunlight flashing off its hair. The musculature of the horse's face and neck is well-depicted, showing a powerful animal in the prime of its life. Beautiful brown, brown-grey, and pink tiles create the body, while the hair is made from dark red, black, and ocher; the reins and bridle are deep, sparkling black. Size of mosaic: 19.9" W x 19.45" H (50.5 cm x 49.4 cm); size of frame: 22.25" W x 22.25" H (56.5 cm x 56.5 cm)
Mosaics (opus tesellatum) are some of our enduring images from the Roman world. They reveal everyday life, social interactions, and even things like clothing styles, personal ornament, and the interior of buildings in ways other styles of Roman art generally do not. Horses are a frequent subject of mosaics, especially ones from Roman North Africa, where the horses of Algeria (known as Numidia) were renowned, and citizens were passionate about chariot races and hunting. One mosaic found there, for example, portrays a race horse with the words, "Win or lose, we love you, Polidoxus." This horse mosaic likely portrays a hunting scene, as chariot race mosaics are very rare, and we would expect to see a chariot horse alongside others as in the recently discovered mosaic found at Akaki, Cyprus. Rather, this horse is likely from a scene similar to the one in the Bardo Museum, Tunisia, that depicts a hunting party where the horse Leonidas is throwing his rider alongside several other horses and riders wearing bridles and reins. It was made by a master artisan, probably to grace an elite family's villa.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection
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#133407
- Condition: Mounted on concrete. Probably part of a larger mosaic. No notable losses, cracks, or repairs. Light patina on surface.
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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 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $25,000 |