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THBRoman Bronze Hand w/ Iron Dagger
About Seller
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
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About Auction
LiveNov 15, 2024
Classical antiquities and ethnographic masterpieces, with treasures from every corner of the globe. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (221)
- Lot Description
Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. An incredible find, a dramatic cast bronze hand clutching an iron dagger. The details of the fingers are lifelike, the fingernails clearly defined. The dagger itself is of pyramidal form, with a flat hilt peeking out from the other side of the fist. The wrist is hollow and socketed, with a hole, presumably because it was once attached to a larger figure by a pin or nail. Perhaps it was even articulated in its original position. Size: 3.7" W x 3.6" H (9.4 cm x 9.1 cm); 6.2" H (15.7 cm) on included custom stand.
The image of a Roman hand clutching a dagger immediately reminds us today of the assassination of Caesar, but daggers were famous as assassination weapons long before the Ides of March. Gaius Servilius Ahala saved Rome in 439 BCE by killing Spurius Maelius, a wealthy Roman who intended to make himself king; Gaius had a dagger concealed in his armpit and stabbed Spurius. Although Gaius was brought to trial and had to go into voluntary exile, many Roman authors, especially Cicero, considered his action to have been incredibly heroic. In general, however, knife crime was a real problem in ancient Rome, and we know of several legal attempts made to curb it, like Sulla's Lex Cornelia. This sculpture may be from a depiction of heroic acts against potential dictators, or it may be from a scene of criminality. Either way, it is definitely a conversation starter!
Provenance: private R.D. collection, Long Beach, California, USA collection, acquired from Palmyra Heritage Gallery, New York, USA in the late 1990s
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.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#189580Crack with small, stable loss on the socket.Condition
- Shipping Info
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All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.
**Please note, we are currently unable to ship to Germany, Switzerland and Australia due to customs clearance issues. We are working to resolve this issue. If you are in Germany, Switzerland or Australia, you will need to provide an alternate shipping destination, arrange your own shipping, or we will not be able to complete your purchase.* **For shipments outside of the USA, custom / duties may apply upon entry into said country; this fee, if any, is the buyer's responsibility. Also, please be aware that Artemis Gallery will NOT falsify customs value on any international shipments - what you pay is what we declare, no exceptions. If you have questions about this, please inquire BEFORE bidding**
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