Ancient Roman Terra Sigillata Fragment with Bust of Emperor Honorius and Celtic Goddess Epona
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Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 250 - € 330
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Ancient Roman Terra Sigillata fragment from the 4th–5th century AD with a moulded relief showing a youthful bust of Emperor Honorius and the Celtic goddess Epona, in good condition and measuring about 68 × 58 mm, authentic/original.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Rare ancient Roman Terra Sigillata fragment with moulded relief decoration and a warm reddish-brown slip.
The composition preserves a frontal bust with youthful, beardless and large-eyed features associated with late Theodosian Imperial portraiture. The bust is particularly comparable to representations of Emperor Honorius.
To the right is a figure interpreted as the goddess Epona, flanked by two horses. The lower section retains part of the vessel's moulded border. Very interesting piece.
-> Terra sigillata was a high-quality Roman tableware distinguished by its fine fabric and characteristic red slip. Relief-decorated examples were produced using moulds, allowing figural, mythological and ornamental scenes to be repeated across multiple vessels
Size: ± 68 x 58 mm
Condition:
Fragment in good solid condition with good quality depictions. Minor surface irregularities and signs of wear consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request for all lots with a hammer price of €100 or higher.
-> The Celtic Goddess Epona was a protector of horses and a goddess of fertility. Epona was one of the few Celtic divinities worshipped in Rome itself and was widespread in the Roman Empire between the first and third century AD. During the Gallo-Roman period, Epona was widely worshipped by the military, and in particular by the cavalry.
-> Honorius was a son of Theodosius I and Emperor of the Western Roman Empire from 393 to 423 AD. His long reign was marked by political instability, conflict with invading Germanic groups and the sack of Rome by the Visigoths in 410 AD. Much of the imperial administration was conducted from Ravenna, which became the Western imperial capital in 402 AD.
Imperial portraits of the late Theodosian period were highly formalised, with individual likeness often subordinate to an idealised image of authority. Honorius, Arcadius, Theodosius II and Valentinian III were commonly portrayed as youthful and beardless, with large prominent eyes, a small mouth, an oval face and carefully arranged hair, frequently combined with a pearl diadem, helmet or military dress. The bust on this fragment appears particularly comparable to portraits of Honorius on gold solidi, although one of the other Theodosian Emperors cannot be excluded.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Rare ancient Roman Terra Sigillata fragment with moulded relief decoration and a warm reddish-brown slip.
The composition preserves a frontal bust with youthful, beardless and large-eyed features associated with late Theodosian Imperial portraiture. The bust is particularly comparable to representations of Emperor Honorius.
To the right is a figure interpreted as the goddess Epona, flanked by two horses. The lower section retains part of the vessel's moulded border. Very interesting piece.
-> Terra sigillata was a high-quality Roman tableware distinguished by its fine fabric and characteristic red slip. Relief-decorated examples were produced using moulds, allowing figural, mythological and ornamental scenes to be repeated across multiple vessels
Size: ± 68 x 58 mm
Condition:
Fragment in good solid condition with good quality depictions. Minor surface irregularities and signs of wear consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request for all lots with a hammer price of €100 or higher.
-> The Celtic Goddess Epona was a protector of horses and a goddess of fertility. Epona was one of the few Celtic divinities worshipped in Rome itself and was widespread in the Roman Empire between the first and third century AD. During the Gallo-Roman period, Epona was widely worshipped by the military, and in particular by the cavalry.
-> Honorius was a son of Theodosius I and Emperor of the Western Roman Empire from 393 to 423 AD. His long reign was marked by political instability, conflict with invading Germanic groups and the sack of Rome by the Visigoths in 410 AD. Much of the imperial administration was conducted from Ravenna, which became the Western imperial capital in 402 AD.
Imperial portraits of the late Theodosian period were highly formalised, with individual likeness often subordinate to an idealised image of authority. Honorius, Arcadius, Theodosius II and Valentinian III were commonly portrayed as youthful and beardless, with large prominent eyes, a small mouth, an oval face and carefully arranged hair, frequently combined with a pearl diadem, helmet or military dress. The bust on this fragment appears particularly comparable to portraits of Honorius on gold solidi, although one of the other Theodosian Emperors cannot be excluded.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Details
Culture
Ancient Roman
Century/timeframe
4th-5th century AD
Name of object
Terra Sigillata Fragment with Bust of Emperor Honorius and Celtic Goddess Epona
Acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Year acquired
2026
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Previous owner - year acquired
2026
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
