Auction 85 - Antiquities

GREEK HELLENISTIC MARBLE PORTRAIT OF A GODDESS
2nd - 1st century BC

height cm 10 (cm 19 with Iron support)

Even if it is preserved only a portion, as a mask, this head preserves its beauty and it's possible appreciate its high artistic quality. This small head has a naturalistic visage, with rounded forehead, large lidded almond-shaped eyes and fine brow-line that arches gracefully and merges with the bridge of her nose. Provided with an iron museal stand. Provenance: From the collection of Mr. U.C., started during 1950s in Brussels; then, collection supplemented by Diplomatic sons until the late 1990s.

ROMAN MARBLE PORTRAIT OF A WOMAN
Julio-Claudian Period, 1st century BC - 1st century AD

height cm 25

The Roman lady is represented with the oval face characterized by rounded chin and slightly-full lips. The eyes are framed by thin modelled brows, arching gracefully and merging with the bridge of her nose. On the short forehead, the wavy hairs are center parted, with the individual strands delineated, which are elegantly pulled back to the nape, in origin probably collected in a chignon. The head is rendered with great restraint and an admirable mixture of realistic and idealized forms, recalling the expressions of beauty in vogue during the late Augustan time and the first decades of Julio-Claudian period. Provenance: Ex Sotheby’s, London 10-11 December 1992, lot 490.

ROMAN MARBLE PORTRAIT OF A CHILD
1st century BC - 1st century AD

height cm 21 (cm 26 with Iron support)

Beautiful portrait of a child caught in the transition to his second childhood. The portrait is characterized by a particular rendering of the physiognomy; the executive details are reminiscent of the early childhood portrait of the Julio-Claudian period. Provided with an iron museal stand. Provenance: From the collection of Mr. U.C., started during 1950s in Brussels; then, collection supplemented by Diplomatic sons until the late 1990s.

ROMAN MARBLE HUNTER
1st - 3rd century AD
atic sons until the late 1990s.
height cm 46,5 (cm 48,5 with Iron support)

Portrayal of a young man, an hunter, as suggested by the game he carries with him. The emaciated body is covered by a robe of animal skin. The strong aesthetic realism that pervades this statue recalls the naturalism of bronze production in Roman times. A close comparison, a twin and specular statue of the same workshop, is preserved in the Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (A231); so, this specimen could be part of a statuary group representing some Divine Twins. Provided with an iron museal stand. Provenance: From the collection of Mr. U.C., started during 1950s in Brussels; then, collection supplemented by Diplom

ROMAN MARBLE TORSO OF HERCULES
1st - 2nd century AD

height (bust) cm 14; total with stand cm 14; length max cm 15

Despite the small size of the torso, the execution of the anatomical features is made with great skill. One immediately recognizes the representation of Hercules knowed as "Farnese" or "Weaky" iconographic type. It represents a mature Hercules, muscular, but tired. The torso is slightly tilted forward, suggesting the presence of the club that, as also in the most known representations, acts as his support. Provided with a Peperino Grigio stone long stand. Provenance: From a collector-entrepreneur of the past who lived between the US and Europe, bought in the 1980s.

ROMAN MARBLE FOOT
1st century BC - 1st century AD

height cm 9; length cm 18

Set on a platform base, this right foot is naturalistically carved, as visible from the details of its toes and nails. Provenance: From the collection of Mr. U.C., started during 1950s in Brussels; then, collection supplemented by Diplomatic sons until the late 1990s.

ROMAN MARBLE LEG
1st - 3rd century AD

height cm 75; length cm 31

Life size standing marble leg laying on support, probably a tree-trunk. It is realized with a particular attention to the anatomy, emphatized by the slow light slipping. Provenance: English private collection, Kent.

ROMAN MARBLE MODEL OF A TEMPLE PODIUM
1st - 2nd century AD

height cm 15; length cm 21,5

Originally a stand belonging to a cult image perhaps linked to the sea, this miniature temple podium has a frontal staircase (perron), dolphins and sea monsters on sides. Provenance: From the collection of Mr. U.C., started during 1950s in Brussels; then, collection supplemented by Diplomatic sons until the late 1990s.

ROMAN MARBLE OSCILLUM FRAGMENT
ca. 1st century AD

height cm 16,5, length cm 11, wide cm 2,5

Usually placed in the Roman villa, decorated reliefs with a forepart of an hare moving to the right on one side, the other side with the rear of a swimming dolphin. Provenance: Ex ACR Auctions, E-Auction 29, Munich 21 September 2015, lot 390.

ROMAN MARBLE TUSCANIC CAPITAL
Julio-Claudian Period, 1st century BC - 1st century AD

height cm 39, diam. base 46, length cm 65 x 65

Of particular beauty and compositional complexity, this capital in Proconnesian marble presents elements dear to the stone tradition of the Augustan period - such as ionic kyma with thin shells adhering to the ovule and open and closed palmettes, alternating with water leaves - which are here, however, interpreted in a new and detailed key that suggests a reworking of the structure for a second use. Provenance: From a collector-entrepreneur of the past who lived between the US and Europe, bought in the 1980s.

ROMAN MARBLE CORINTHIAN CAPITAL ADAPTED TO TABLE
Flavian Period, 1st century AD

height (capital) cm 40; height tot. cm 75; diam. cm 48; round glass top diam. cm 130

A very nice modern table, composed of a wooden covered with marble stepped base, equipped with wheels, and an upper wooden covered with marble disc that acts as a support for the glass top. As leg, a portion of a Roman Marble Capital. Provenance: English old private collection since 1980s, London.

ROMAN MARBLE COLUMN WITH LEAVES
1st - 2nd century AD

height cm 55

Provenance: English private collection, Kent.