Fine Roman Bronze Hand w/ Bird & Wreath

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Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic

By Artemis Gallery

Feb 21, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-02-21 10:00:00 2019-02-21 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-3858
An important one-day auction featuring museum-worthy examples of Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Far East / Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Russian, Fossils, Ancient Jewelry, Fine Art, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. An ancient cast bronze right hand, a votive hand for the Sabazios cult, presenting a dove or eagle perched upon an orb/egg with a wreath in its mouth emerging from the open hand. Such Sabazios cult hands were part of the worship of a Thracian/Anatolian deity associated with Jupiter. Hands like these were attached to poles, carried in processions, and placed in sanctuaries. An amazing piece with harmonious anatomical ratios and lovely details such as the incised plumage on the bird's wings. Size: 4.75" H (12.1 cm); 8.125" H (20.6 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  In classical antiquity, the eagle was an attribute of Jupiter (Zeus) as well as a highly-symbolic animal of pride and victory. Known as "aquila" in Latin, the eagle was a representation of honor, victory, and cohesiveness. Doves were associated with Venus (Aphrodite), the goddess of love, and were sometimes depicted holding an olive branch in their beaks to symbolize peace. In this case, we have either an olive or laurel wreath; these were awarded to winners of athletic competitions as well as war heroes, crowning the victors.
  
  In the Classical World, bronze was the preferred material for dedicatory sculpture. Due to its high tensile strength, bronze enabled a sculptor to create figures with impressive poses. Stone, on the other hand (no pun intended), presented more limitations. Unfortunately, though many bronze sculptures were created during antiquity, most have vanished with far fewer surviving in comparison to their marble counterparts, as bronze sculptures were frequently melted down, so that the bronze could be reused. Because of this, surviving Roman bronzes like this example are very special.
  
  See another votive hand for the Sabazios cult at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston - https://www.mfa.org/collections/object/votive-hand-for-sabazios-cult-481954
  
  Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-William Froelich collection, New York, USA, acquired in the 1970s
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
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  #141472

  Condition

  Old loss to edge of wrist as shown. Expected surface wear commensurate with age. This said, some fabulous details, such as incised plumage on the dove's wings, have survived the tests of time. What's more, deep blue-green patina has developed over the past approximately 1800 years.
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