Celtic Votive Head of Deity
20
days
01
hour
03
minutes
10
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Starting bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
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Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 330 - € 400
No bids placed
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This Celtic bronze votive head, dating from 1100–800 BC, depicts a highly stylised male face.
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 anthropomorphic miniature head of a Celtic deity or God from the Celtic Bronze Age. The solid bronze head has a highly stylised male face, elongated oval head with deeply recessed almond-shaped eyes, a long prominent nose and a small, straight mouth.
-> The solid bronze head was most likely a votive offering. The style is typical for primitive Celtic art featuring characteristic deep-set eyes and a define nasal bridge. A stunning timeless abstract design that strongly resembles modern minimalist sculpture.
Size: ± 27 x 18 x 16,7 mm
Good solid condition. The bronze displays a dark olive-green patina with earthen deposits 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 human head held particular importance in Celtic art and religion. Ancient writers and archaeological discoveries suggest that it could be regarded as the seat of identity, courage and spiritual power. Stone and bronze heads were placed in sanctuaries, settlements and sacred springs, sometimes representing deities, ancestors or protective beings. Their simplified features were not necessarily the result of limited craftsmanship, but formed part of a deliberate visual tradition in which expression and symbolic presence were often more important than naturalistic portraiture.
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 anthropomorphic miniature head of a Celtic deity or God from the Celtic Bronze Age. The solid bronze head has a highly stylised male face, elongated oval head with deeply recessed almond-shaped eyes, a long prominent nose and a small, straight mouth.
-> The solid bronze head was most likely a votive offering. The style is typical for primitive Celtic art featuring characteristic deep-set eyes and a define nasal bridge. A stunning timeless abstract design that strongly resembles modern minimalist sculpture.
Size: ± 27 x 18 x 16,7 mm
Good solid condition. The bronze displays a dark olive-green patina with earthen deposits 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 human head held particular importance in Celtic art and religion. Ancient writers and archaeological discoveries suggest that it could be regarded as the seat of identity, courage and spiritual power. Stone and bronze heads were placed in sanctuaries, settlements and sacred springs, sometimes representing deities, ancestors or protective beings. Their simplified features were not necessarily the result of limited craftsmanship, but formed part of a deliberate visual tradition in which expression and symbolic presence were often more important than naturalistic portraiture.
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
Celtic
Century/timeframe
1100-800 BC
Name of object
Votive Head of Deity
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
