Etruscan or Roman antefix - Silen head
Price: on request
Sold
Object number
AR2680-K05
| Object: |
Tile with plastic Silen head
|
| Material: |
Red clay with traces of dark red painting
|
| Date: |
About 4th - 1st century B.C.
|
| Description: |
Fragment of a decorative tile or antefix, showing the head of a balding Silenus (a mythological creature that is half man, half beast) with a fleshy face with a large, bulbous nose, protuberant eyes and large ears. Loop above the head, similar to the famous Silen mask depiction on exhibition in the Metropolitan Museum of Arts.
|
| Size: |
Height 18 cm, width 20 cm, depth 7 cm.
|
| Condition: |
Fragment of an antefix (decorative end of a roof tile) or a decorative tile. Very well preserved.
|
| Provenance: |
Acquired by us in 2019 from the estate of professor Ritschel, Austria. Exported with the approval of the Austrian federal monuments office. Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Ritschel acquired his collection between 1960 and 1970 from international art dealers.
|
| Prof. Ritschel collection: |
Professor Ritschel played an important role for the culture and historical heritage of Salzburg in Austria. He supported the town's cultural development with great commitment. For example, he sponsored the restoration of the Franciscan Church. As a president of the local museum association he was playing a key role in the erection of the Salzburg Museum in the Neue Residenz. The author and brilliant writer manifested his interest in history in over 50 books and 500 columns telling the story of Salzburg. He lived his passion to communicate history to a broader public. For his achievements Karl-Heinz Ritschel was decorated many times, for example in 1995 when the Republic of Austria awarded its Decoration for Science and Art. Also his private collection of ancient art was impressive, focussing on Roman pottery, glass, bronzes and portraiture. We have taken great care to prepare the apparently unpublished pieces with our usual high claim to quality. Now we would like to give them back to the commitment and care of a well-managed collection. |
| Authenticity: |
We unconditionally guarantee the authenticity of every artefact, all items are subject to our lifetime return policy on authenticity.
|