Roman bronze bust of a woman from the estate of Prof. G. Retzius (1842 - 1919)
€11,000
available
Object number
AR3375
| Object: |
Bust of a woman
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| Material: |
Bronze
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| Date: |
2nd century A.D. Roman Empire |
| Description: |
The head is tilted slightly to the right. The long hair is twisted inward in thick strands at the sides and tied in a knot at the back of the head. A small curl in front of each ear. Lancet-shaped earrings. The eyes are carefully carved with incised pupils. The lips are full and curved. The tunic is held together by a small, oval brooch on each shoulder. A piece of wood could have been inserted into the recess on the underside. The bust was probably used as a decorative ornament on a boat or chariot. |
| Size: |
Bust: height 141mm, width 93mm, depth 80mm. Incl. base: height 184mm, width 100mm |
| Condition: |
The surface is worn, but the bust itself is in excellent condition. The piece was carefully cleaned by a previous owner and has retained its original, green patina. It is mounted on a modern, varnished wooden base using four screws through the bronze plates of the bust. Slight chipping along the edges of the wooden base where the heavy antique bronze rests on the wooden edges. An old sticker with reference to the 1917 auction is on the underside of the base ("auction 29.7.1917 Hoving & Winborg no. 64 Tillhört Prof. G. Retzius").
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| Reference: |
Compare M. Kohlert-Nemeth, Archäologische Reihe Römische Bronzen I (Frankfurt am Main 1988) p.44- 47 Nr. 14 (there a bust of Bacchus, probably used as a decoration for a chariot).
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| Provenance: |
Acquired by us in 2022 from the auction house Jean-David Cahn AG. Previously in the Swiss private collection of Herbert Cahn (1915–2002), one of the most noted dealers in ancient coins and works of art of his time, as well as a passionate researcher in the fields of ancient numismatics and classical archaeology (since 1965, lecturer at the University of Heidelberg, and honorary professor from 1971. Since 1983, Cahn taught at the University of Freiburg). Ex Hoving & Winborg auction of September 29, 1917, no. 964. Consigned there from the estate of Prof. Gustaf Retzius (1842 - 1919), a well-known and internationally honored professor of anatomy. |
| Authenticity: |
We unconditionally guarantee the authenticity of every artefact, all items are subject to our lifetime return policy on authenticity.
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