Ancient Sculpture and Works of Art
Ancient Sculpture and Works of Art
Property of a Swiss Private Collector
A Roman Bronze Figure of a Satyr, circa 2nd Century A.D.
Lot Closed
July 7, 04:00 PM GMT
Estimate
7,000 - 10,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Property of a Swiss Private Collector
A Roman Bronze Figure of a Satyr
circa 2nd Century A.D.
standing on a rectangular plinth set into a separately cast base weighted with lead, with knees bent and leaning sharply back with both hands extended before him, with spiral curled tail, and horns emerging from his finely incised short wavy hair.
Height 22.5 cm.
New York private collection, early 1990s
Sotheby's, New York, June 12th, 1993, no. 140, illus.
American private collection (Christie's, New York, June 9th, 2011, no. 174, illus.)
acquired by the present owner at the above sale
The integral plinth is inserted into a separately cast base filled with lead. The hands are unarticulated and perforated, probably once holding a tray or basket. It is possible that the container held some small delicacies meant for guests at the dinner table. For related bronze figures serving as food holders see C. Mattusch, ed., The Fires of Hephaistos, 1996, p. 111, and note 62.