Ancient Roman Lion's head in bronze - 4.5 cm
03
days
06
hours
54
minutes
56
seconds
Current bid
€ 500
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Ruth Garrido Vila
Directed the Ifergan Collection Museum, specialising in Phoenician and Mediterranean archaeology.
Estimate € 3,900 - € 4,400
18 other people are watching this object
 Bidder 9782 | €500 |
|---|
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 127726 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Roman bronze lion's head from the 1st century A.D., in excellent condition, 4.5 cm high, 4.5 cm wide and 6 cm deep, acquired from a Spanish private collection in the 1980s, with an authenticity certificate.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Superb and impressive Roman Lion's head in bronze from the 1st century A.D.
The figure of a lion has been, since ancient times, a powerful symbol of strength, bravery and divine power, especially in Roman art and culture. This particular example, made of bronze and with traces of greenish patina, stands out for its expressiveness and detail. Roman craftsmen were adept at capturing the distinctive features of animals, such as the wavy mane, piercing eyes and robust snout seen in this piece.
The lion, associated with deities such as Hercules or Jupiter, was frequently used as a decorative motif on fountains, luxury furniture or even pieces of military harness, suggesting that this head could have been part of one of those contexts. Its execution shows the influence of Hellenistic traditions in bronze modelling, reflecting the cultural impact of Greece on the Roman world.
This type of representation also had a protective character, as lions were often placed on doors, fountains or symbolic places to ward off evil. The piece could have been part of a functional or ornamental appliqué in an elite domestic or ceremonial setting, underlining the importance of the animal as a symbol of status and power.
Acquired from a Spanish private collection, M.R.G in the 80's.
The piece includes an authenticity certificate.
The seller can prove that the lot was obtained legally. Important information. The seller guarantees that he is entitled to ship this lot. The seller will ensure that any necessary permits are arranged; this process can take between 2 and 4 weeks.
IMPORTANT: Due to new laws on the export of archaeological pieces, we have decided to NO LONGER sell outside the European territory for the following countries: Switzerland & United States of America.
For destinations outside European territory: all our items will be shipped after obtaining a definitive EXPORT LICENSE from the Ministry of Culture of Spain. We inform our clients that it may take between
4-8 weeks. According to Spanish legislation, items sent outside the European Union are subject to export taxes. The taxes will be added to the invoice at the buyer's expense. These export fees are fixed based on the final auction price, and the tax rate is not applied directly to the total value of the item to be exported, but rather, different percentages are applied to sections of it.
Up to 6,000 euros: 5%. / From 6,001 to 60,000 euros: 10%.
Please note that for far destinations (Asia, Middle East, etc.), there will be an additional cost for shipping.
Superb and impressive Roman Lion's head in bronze from the 1st century A.D.
The figure of a lion has been, since ancient times, a powerful symbol of strength, bravery and divine power, especially in Roman art and culture. This particular example, made of bronze and with traces of greenish patina, stands out for its expressiveness and detail. Roman craftsmen were adept at capturing the distinctive features of animals, such as the wavy mane, piercing eyes and robust snout seen in this piece.
The lion, associated with deities such as Hercules or Jupiter, was frequently used as a decorative motif on fountains, luxury furniture or even pieces of military harness, suggesting that this head could have been part of one of those contexts. Its execution shows the influence of Hellenistic traditions in bronze modelling, reflecting the cultural impact of Greece on the Roman world.
This type of representation also had a protective character, as lions were often placed on doors, fountains or symbolic places to ward off evil. The piece could have been part of a functional or ornamental appliqué in an elite domestic or ceremonial setting, underlining the importance of the animal as a symbol of status and power.
Acquired from a Spanish private collection, M.R.G in the 80's.
The piece includes an authenticity certificate.
The seller can prove that the lot was obtained legally. Important information. The seller guarantees that he is entitled to ship this lot. The seller will ensure that any necessary permits are arranged; this process can take between 2 and 4 weeks.
IMPORTANT: Due to new laws on the export of archaeological pieces, we have decided to NO LONGER sell outside the European territory for the following countries: Switzerland & United States of America.
For destinations outside European territory: all our items will be shipped after obtaining a definitive EXPORT LICENSE from the Ministry of Culture of Spain. We inform our clients that it may take between
4-8 weeks. According to Spanish legislation, items sent outside the European Union are subject to export taxes. The taxes will be added to the invoice at the buyer's expense. These export fees are fixed based on the final auction price, and the tax rate is not applied directly to the total value of the item to be exported, but rather, different percentages are applied to sections of it.
Up to 6,000 euros: 5%. / From 6,001 to 60,000 euros: 10%.
Please note that for far destinations (Asia, Middle East, etc.), there will be an additional cost for shipping.
Details
Culture
Ancient Roman
Century/timeframe
1st century A.D
Name of object
Lion's head in bronze
Acquired from
Private collection
Year acquired
80
Country acquired from
Spain
Condition
Excellent
Previous owner acquired from
Private collection
Height
4.5 cm
Previous owner - year acquired
80
Width
4.5 cm
Previous owner - country acquired from
Spain
Depth
6 cm
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
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.
