Ancient Sculpture and Works of Art
Ancient Sculpture and Works of Art
Property from a U.S. Private Collection
A Roman Bronze Figure of a Comic Actor, circa 2nd Century A.D.
Lot Closed
July 6, 01:28 PM GMT
Estimate
2,000 - 3,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Property from a U.S. Private Collection
A Roman Bronze Figure of a Comic Actor
circa 2nd Century A.D.
perhaps the lid of an incense-burner, seated on a circular support (taking refuge on an altar?) and gesturing in a lively manner, and wearing soft boots, leggings, short-sleeved tunic, and slave mask, his curly hair with short braid behind, the ears, eyes, and mouth open to the hollow interior, a small hole crowning his balding pate.
Height 12.7 cm.
Sotheby Parke Bernet Inc., acquired from the above (Sotheby Parke Bernet , New York, November 22nd, 1974, no. 266, illus.)
Compare Getty Museum, inv. no. 87.AC.143 (Andrew Oliver, "An Incense Burner in the Form of an Actor as a Slave on an Altar," in: Bronces y Religion Romana. Actas del XI Congresso Internacional de Bronces Antiguos, 1993, pp. 331-336; http://www.getty.edu/art/collection/objects/12890/unknown-maker-thymiaterion-in-the-form-of-a-comic-actor-seated-on-an-altar-and-a-separate-theatrical-wig-roman-first-half-of-1st-century-ad/#d5762a802c763cf5283e110913fa5e9ea7772404).