Ancient Roman Limestone Bust of Vulcanus
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Selected by Ruth Garrido Vila
Directed the Ifergan Collection Museum, specialising in Phoenician and Mediterranean archaeology.
Estimate € 2,700 - € 3,300
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Bust of Vulcanus, a limestone Ancient Roman bust from the 1st–2nd century A.D., in good condition, measuring 150 × 237 × 120 mm, acquired from a German private collection in 2024, and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity and an EU export license.
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Description from the seller
ITEM: Bust of Vulcanus
MATERIAL: Limestone
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 1st - 2nd Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 150 mm x 237 mm x 120 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex German private collection, acquired before 2013
Vulcanus, known to the Greeks as Hephaestus, was the Roman god of fire, metalworking, forges, and craftsmanship. In Roman religion, Vulcan was revered as a powerful and potentially dangerous deity, embodying the destructive and creative aspects of fire. His domain included not only the forging of weapons and tools but also the subterranean fires that could cause volcanic eruptions. The Romans feared his wrath, particularly in the form of uncontrolled fire, and so sought to appease him through worship and ritual, especially during the height of summer when fires were most destructive.
One of the central aspects of Vulcan’s cult was the festival of the Vulcanalia, held annually on August 23rd. During this celebration, Romans offered live fish and small animals by casting them into bonfires, symbolically redirecting Vulcan’s destructive fire away from the city. Vulcan’s worship was among the oldest in Rome, with his shrine—the Volcanal—situated at the foot of the Capitoline Hill, near the Roman Forum. His close association with fire and blacksmithing also made him a patron of artisans and armorers, and in mythology, he was credited with crafting legendary items such as Aeneas’s shield.
In art and literature, Vulcan was often depicted as a bearded, muscular man working at an anvil, sometimes with a hammer or tongs in hand. Despite his important role, he was not portrayed with the same idealized beauty as other gods; like his Greek counterpart, he was often represented with a physical imperfection—usually a limp—which set him apart and emphasized his laborious role among the gods. Vulcan’s mythology intertwines with stories of divine invention, betrayal, and resilience, reflecting Roman values of strength through skill and the harnessing of dangerous natural forces for the good of society.
Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and European Union export license
If you bid outside European Union and win the item, we must request a new export license to your country and the shipment will delay between 3 - 5 weeks.
Seller's Story
Your Antiquarian offers ancient art and ancient coins. Our main objective is to offer the highest quality at the best price respecting and strictly complying with the laws of heritage protection and UNESCO heritage norms. Therefore, all the pieces that are published come from private collections in which the provenance can be checked or international auctions. All our antiquities and coins are accompanied by their Certificate of Authenticity. We have a no quibble 90 day return policy. At Your Antiquarian we are committed to helping disadvantaged groups and for this reason a portion of each purchase is donated to charities to help people in need.
Translated by Google TranslateITEM: Bust of Vulcanus
MATERIAL: Limestone
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 1st - 2nd Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 150 mm x 237 mm x 120 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex German private collection, acquired before 2013
Vulcanus, known to the Greeks as Hephaestus, was the Roman god of fire, metalworking, forges, and craftsmanship. In Roman religion, Vulcan was revered as a powerful and potentially dangerous deity, embodying the destructive and creative aspects of fire. His domain included not only the forging of weapons and tools but also the subterranean fires that could cause volcanic eruptions. The Romans feared his wrath, particularly in the form of uncontrolled fire, and so sought to appease him through worship and ritual, especially during the height of summer when fires were most destructive.
One of the central aspects of Vulcan’s cult was the festival of the Vulcanalia, held annually on August 23rd. During this celebration, Romans offered live fish and small animals by casting them into bonfires, symbolically redirecting Vulcan’s destructive fire away from the city. Vulcan’s worship was among the oldest in Rome, with his shrine—the Volcanal—situated at the foot of the Capitoline Hill, near the Roman Forum. His close association with fire and blacksmithing also made him a patron of artisans and armorers, and in mythology, he was credited with crafting legendary items such as Aeneas’s shield.
In art and literature, Vulcan was often depicted as a bearded, muscular man working at an anvil, sometimes with a hammer or tongs in hand. Despite his important role, he was not portrayed with the same idealized beauty as other gods; like his Greek counterpart, he was often represented with a physical imperfection—usually a limp—which set him apart and emphasized his laborious role among the gods. Vulcan’s mythology intertwines with stories of divine invention, betrayal, and resilience, reflecting Roman values of strength through skill and the harnessing of dangerous natural forces for the good of society.
Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and European Union export license
If you bid outside European Union and win the item, we must request a new export license to your country and the shipment will delay between 3 - 5 weeks.
Seller's Story
Your Antiquarian offers ancient art and ancient coins. Our main objective is to offer the highest quality at the best price respecting and strictly complying with the laws of heritage protection and UNESCO heritage norms. Therefore, all the pieces that are published come from private collections in which the provenance can be checked or international auctions. All our antiquities and coins are accompanied by their Certificate of Authenticity. We have a no quibble 90 day return policy. At Your Antiquarian we are committed to helping disadvantaged groups and for this reason a portion of each purchase is donated to charities to help people in need.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Culture
Ancient Roman
Century/ Timeframe
1st - 2nd Century A.D
Name of object
Bust of Vulcanus
Acquired from
Private collection
Year acquired
2024
Material
Limestone
Country acquired from
Germany
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Antique market
Previous owner - year acquired
2013
Width
237 mm
Previous owner - country acquired from
Germany
Depth
120 mm
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
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.
