Ancient Roman Fire Striker with Leaping Lion
Starting bid
€ 1
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Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 210 - € 250
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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 fire striker showing a leaping lion.
The lion is depicted with its body stretched forward, its front legs extended. The expressive head features a prominent eye, a broad muzzle and an open mouth, while the richly textured mane is decorated with finely modelled, overlapping locks of hair.
The long tail curls upwards over the animal's back, forming an elegant loop with a distinctly shaped terminal.
Beneath the lion is an elongated, slightly curved bar connecting the front and rear of the figure.
-> The lion was a powerful symbol in the ancient world, associated with strength, courage, protection and authority. In Roman art, lions were also closely connected with Hercules and his legendary defeat of the Nemean Lion. Such animal motifs were frequently incorporated into decorative metalwork and personal objects.
Size: ± 73.7 mm
Good solid condition. The surface displays a warm reddish-brown patina with areas of darker oxidation and traces of green patination. Traces of iron on the curved bar. Minor surface irregularities and signs of wear consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format) for sale price of € 100 or more.
-> Using flint and iron is a primitive fire-making technique, tracing its origins to the Iron Age when iron became an accessible material. Dry and easily combustible material (tinder) was set on fire by using the sparks created by striking a piece of flint on the iron.
This very efficient technique was widely employed for many centuries. The invention of matches rendered the flint and steel method obsolete.
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 fire striker showing a leaping lion.
The lion is depicted with its body stretched forward, its front legs extended. The expressive head features a prominent eye, a broad muzzle and an open mouth, while the richly textured mane is decorated with finely modelled, overlapping locks of hair.
The long tail curls upwards over the animal's back, forming an elegant loop with a distinctly shaped terminal.
Beneath the lion is an elongated, slightly curved bar connecting the front and rear of the figure.
-> The lion was a powerful symbol in the ancient world, associated with strength, courage, protection and authority. In Roman art, lions were also closely connected with Hercules and his legendary defeat of the Nemean Lion. Such animal motifs were frequently incorporated into decorative metalwork and personal objects.
Size: ± 73.7 mm
Good solid condition. The surface displays a warm reddish-brown patina with areas of darker oxidation and traces of green patination. Traces of iron on the curved bar. Minor surface irregularities and signs of wear consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format) for sale price of € 100 or more.
-> Using flint and iron is a primitive fire-making technique, tracing its origins to the Iron Age when iron became an accessible material. Dry and easily combustible material (tinder) was set on fire by using the sparks created by striking a piece of flint on the iron.
This very efficient technique was widely employed for many centuries. The invention of matches rendered the flint and steel method obsolete.
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
1st - 3rd century AD
Name of object
Fire Striker with Leaping Lion
Acquired from
Antique market
Year acquired
2026
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Antique market
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
