Roman appliqués of Sol Invictus and Luna
€2,100
available
Object number
AR3258-9
| Object: |
Roman appliqués of Sol Invictus and Luna
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| Material: |
Terra cotta with remains of dark red slip.
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| Period: |
1st cent. AD to 2nd cent. AD, Roman Imperial period. |
| Description: |
Ensemble of two clay appliqués. One of the two belonging pieces with a central bust of Sol invictus, the Roman sun god. He looks straight ahead, his chest draped, a radiate crown on his head. The lower part of the appliqué is framed by five radiating leaves. The two lateral leaves are pierced so that the appliqué could be attached. The back is hollow behind the head and otherwise flat. A fine example of the cult of Sol, which grew in importance in the first century and culminated in Sol Invictus Mithras worship in the second century. The other clay appliqué with a central bust of Luna, the Roman moon goddess. She looks straight ahead, her chest draped, a crescent moon behind her head. The lower part of the appliqué is framed by five radiating leaves. The two lateral leaves are pierced so that the appliqué could be attached. The back is hollow behind the head and otherwise flat. |
| Dimensions: |
For Sol: 9.3cm wide, 10.1cm high. Circa 1.5cm deep. For Luna: 9.2cm wide, 10.6cm high. Circa 1.5cm deep. |
| Condition: |
Both pieces in very good condition, including remains of the original slip. And both pieces intact, only the Sol appliqué with chipping and restoration of one beam at the back surface, which does not affect the overall impression, and the Luna appliqué with tiny chips.
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| Provenance: |
Acquired by us in 2021 on the German art market. Previously owned by the German family H. W. Acquired into the collection in 1989 from Guenter Puhze gallery in Freiburg, Germany. It is said that the piece is shown in the gallery's 1989 catalogue "Kunst der Antike 8" as number 132 and 133. The very similar craftmenship and the joint first appearance in the art trade speaks for a cohesive group and a joint find context.
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| References: |
For a similar depiction of Sol, together with Luna, on a Roman lamp of that period see British Museum, no. 1856,1226.40.
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| Authenticity: |
We unconditionally guarantee the authenticity of every artefact, all items are subject to our lifetime return policy on authenticity.
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