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Late Roman Bronze Rivet Cup with Superb Patina
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Pre AD 1000 item# 595318
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$875.00
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This superb late Roman bronze cup dates circa 3rd-5th century A.D. and is approximately 3 inches high and 4 inches in diameter. This piece has exceptional late Roman heavy bronze riveting that attaches the handle to the main body of the vessel. There are five heavy rivets that can be seen and they were beaten down on the inside of the piece. This piece required a good metal smith in order to create this vessel from one single sheet of metal, and then apply the heavy rivet system for the handle. This piece was probably also made in and around Trier, Germany. This piece has a superb patina, as it is dark green with a mix of red and gold colors. The inside of the vessel has light green mineral deposits, and it is intact with no dents and/or minor damage. An exceptional vessel for the period with a superb patina. Ex: Gunter Puhze, Freiburg, Germany. Ex: Private German collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Roman Bronze Silenus Applique Figure
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Pre AD 1000 item# 599095
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$965.00
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This superb Roman bronze piece is an applique with the image of Silenus. This piece dates circa 1st century B.C.-1st century A.D., and is in the form of a facing head, with an attached peg that extends about 1.5 inches from the back side of the applique. This piece was probably mounted in an object such as a furniture piece, or a bronze and wooden door, or a composite work or arms such as a Roman shield. A piece with this type of design, with the extended peg, could have fit in a number of objects. The Sileni were native not to Greece, but to Phrygia in Roman Asia, and personified the genii of springs and rivers. Unlike the Satyrs who derive chiefly from the he-goat, the Sileni derive rather from the horse, whose tail hooves, and even ears they possess. This piece clearly shows the horse ears and shows Silenus as a fat old man, snub-nosed, always drunk, who was in the retinue of Dionysus. Silenus was the tutor of Dionysus and had helped him form his character. The diameter of this piece is approximately 1.4 inches and the length is approximately 2 inches. This piece has a dark green patina with red highlights and the detail is superb. There are some dark green mineral deposits seen on the extended peg. This piece is mounted with clay on a custom black/plexiglas base and can easily be removed. Ex: Private German collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Roman Bronze Patera Handle with Ram Figure
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Pre AD 1000 item# 584689
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$875.00
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This Roman bronze with ram figure is a "patera handle" that dates circa 1st century AD. This piece was used in a ceremony, which was sacrificial in nature, that determined the omens for a future military event. This ceremony involved the sacrifice of a ram, and the piece seen here has a ram's head at the terminal end of the handle. The ram's head seen here has silver inlay eyes and detailed lines that define the horns. This piece has a nice dark green patina with muti-colored mineralization. There is a detailed scrolling foliate pattern where the handle attached to the open pan. This piece was also made from three cast pieces that made up the entire piece seen here. This piece is approximately 6.7 inches long and is in better condition than most examples. This piece is mounted on a custom clear and black plexiglas stand that is also included. Ex: Christie's Antiquities, May 1997, no. 168. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Cute Roman Bronze Resting Dog: X-Mildenberg
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Pre AD 1000 item# 769690
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$965.00
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This cute Roman bronze dog dates circa 2nd-3rd century A.D., and is approximately 1.7 inches long. This little Roman bronze dog is seen resting on the ground and looks very relaxed. This type of piece was collected by Leo Mildenberg of Zurich, Switzerland, who built a collection of ancient animal art. His collection were all of animals that did not display any signs of violence, and this piece is a prime example. There is minute detail seen on this piece and the hair, eyes, ears, and other features are readily seen. This type of dog is a breed that one can see today, and appears to be a mixed breed. This dog also appears to have some age, and probably was an old trusted and loyal pet. This piece has an attractive dark green patina with some spotty light brown mineral deposits, and has some heavy light brown mineral deposits on the bottom of the flat base. There is also a mounting prong seen extended from the bottom base, and this piece may have been part of a figural group. The mounting prong extends down into the custom wooden base, and this piece can easily be removed. Ex: Leo Mildenberg collection, Zurich. Ex: Private Swiss collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Superb Roman Bronze Bust of the Goddess Minerva
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Pre AD 1000 item# 1011365
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$5,675.00
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This superb Roman bronze is a bust of the goddess Minerva. This complete piece is approximately 4.5 inches high, and dates circa 1st century A.D. This beautiful piece is a much better example than what is normally seen, and is a complete intact example. This attractive piece is also in superb condition, save for a small dent at the tip of the nose. This piece has an attractive dark green patina with spotty red highlights, and in addition, this piece has a crest pin and detailed flowing crest that is usually missing relative to this type of piece. This piece also has a detailed scaly aegis fronted by a facing head of Medusa, silver inlaid eyes, and a detailed crested Corinthian helmet seen high on her head. The goddess has a beautiful oval face with her long hair center parted, and a serene upward gaze. The silver inlaid eyes also accentuate the serene facial expression that is portrayed. This piece has an iron pin seen under the piece, and this piece may have been attached to a furniture piece or a private shrine. The worship of Minerva was universally established, and it was the duty of almost every member of Roman society to implore the assistance and patronage of Minerva who presided over sense, taste, and reason. She was also invoked by every artist, and particularly those who worked with wool, embroidery, painting, and sculpture. This piece is very analogous in type and size to an example that was offered in Christies Antiquities, New York, Dec. 2008, no. 141. See attached photo. ($7,000.00-$9,000.00 estimates, $6,250.00 realized.) This piece also sits on a custom metal stand. Ex: Private New York collection. Ex: Harlan J. Berk collection, Chicago, Ill. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Roman Bronze Satyr Figurine with Wine Skin & Patera
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Pre AD 1000 item# 793075
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$3675.00
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This animated Roman bronze figurine is a standing satyr, who is seen filling a patera from a wineskin. This superb piece dates circa 2nd-3rd century A.D. and is approximately 3 inches high. This standing nude satyr, who is seen filling a patera from a wineskin, has bent knees as he is staggering under the weight of the full wineskin. This slightly chubby creature has a round face, a neat cap of wavy hair with a prominent tuft over his forehead, arched eyebrows, smiling mouth, and pointed ears. These features all give this charming bronze figurine a very animated look, and perfectly depict this satyr as an attendant of the Roman god of wine Bacchus, who along with the satyri, engaged in riotous orgies. The patera, held by this satyr, was also used for Roman wine sacrificial ceremonies, and this piece may represent this type of ceremony as well, as a figurine such as this piece may have been part of a private shrine in a wealthy household. (For an analogous example, see the example from the House of the Centenary, Pompeii, now in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples, inventory no. 111495, illustrated in Stefano De Caro, "The National Archaeological Museum of Naples", Naples, Italy, 2001, p.206.) This complete piece is a scarce type, and has a nice dark green patina. This piece is mounted on a custom metal stand. Ex: Private CA. collection. Ex: Fortuna Fine Arts, New York, New York. (Additional documentation is available to the purchaser.) I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Roman Bronze Gladiatorial Ceremonial Sword Hilt
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Pre AD 1000 item# 771544
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$6800.00
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This extremely rare piece is a Roman bronze sword hilt that is in the form of a feathered eagle's head. The eagle is the imperial symbol of Rome itself, and the eyes of the eagle appear to show an intense expression, and this reflects the hard profession of the Roman gladiator. This piece dates circa 1st-2nd century A.D. and is approximately 4.8 inches long by 2.6 inches high. This piece held an iron blade, and the base of the feathered eagle's neck supports a bust of Hercules, which serves as a hand guard. The bust of Hercules is seen with a lion's skin draped over his head, and this depiction of Hercules on a Roman weapon of this type is extremely rare, as Roman bronze sword hilts of this type normally depict a helmeted Minerva. ( For this type with the helmeted Minerva see Christie's Antiquities, London, The Axel Guttmann Collection of Ancient Arms and Armour, Part II, April 2004, no. 173. ) The only other known example of an extremely rare Roman bronze weapon of this type, with the bust of Hercules, is seen in the National Museum Naples, Italy. ( Inventory no. 68308. ) This National Museum Naples example is thought to have come from Pompeii, which had a gladiatorial training school/barracks and one of the earliest gladiatorial amphitheatres in central Italy. This amphitheatre seated twenty thousand spectators, which was many for a small town such as Pompeii. ( For an overview of Pompeii see "Gladiators" by Michael Grant, Barnes and Noble Pub., 1995, pages 40-49.) The exceptional piece offered here may have been used for ceremonial events, as well as combat, and it is also quite possible that the Minerva and the Hercules bust types were used by different types of gladiatorial combatants. This piece is in superb condition for the type, and has a nice dark green patina with spotty red highlights. The box holding the iron blade has a small break seen at the bottom, and this may be battle damage. There is also some spotty wear in sections of the handle and this may also indicate long use of the weapon. An extremely rare weapon that is also a rare type. Mounted on a custom plexiglas display stand, and can easily be removed. Ex: Christie's Antiquities, London, Dec. 1991, no. 182. Ex: Axel Guttmann collection, Berlin, Germany. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Roman Bronze Portrait Bust of a Young Caracalla.
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Pre AD 1000 item# 665966
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$3675.00
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This Roman bronze portrait bust dates circa 2nd century A.D., and is the terminal end for a leg that served as a table support for a folding tripod. These Roman bronze tripods were portable and moved with the Roman armies and/or wealthy families. This piece had a L-shaped hook at the back that supported a caldron that was at the center of the tripod. This piece is in the form of a portrait bust, and may depict the young Roman emperor Caracalla. This bust also has an attribute relative to Herakles, as the figure is seen wearing a lion's skin cloak. The face has a short cropped beard, a rounded nose, and a wide forehead which are prominent features of Caracalla. The head is slightly turned to the right as are many Roman marble portrait busts during this period. The hair is seen as thick rounded curls which may indicate a wig, as Caracalla was known to have worn a golden haired wig that was arranged in the German style. Caracalla was born in 188 A.D., and in 213 A.D. as emperor, he left Rome for Germany and defeated the Alamanni on the upper Rhine River. Caracalla often wore a flowing Gallic cloak which gave him his nickname, and the bust seen here shows a lion's skin cloak that is not only an attribute of Herakles, but is also an attribute of Alexander the Great. After Caracalla's victories in Germany, he planned an invasion of the Parthian east, and in 214 A.D., he mustered a great army for this oriental expedition, including a phalanx of sixteen thousand men, clothed and equipped like the Macedonians of old. Caracalla liked to see himself as a new Alexander the Great, and this may explain the lion's skin cloak seen on this piece. Caracalla met his end in 216 A.D., near Edessa in Media, and was stabbed to death by supporters of Macrinus. This piece may be a portrait of Caracalla for the reasons noted above, and there is a strong possibility that this stylized image is an image of Caracalla as seen in the guise of Alexander the Great. (The portraiture of Alexander the Great is noteworthy for the wide range of styles that were employed to portray his unique physiognomy. The treatment of the hair, for example, can be long and wavy, while others emphasize the cowlick seen above the forehead which is known as the "anastole". This "anastole" can be seen on the piece offered here, with the hair raising up as a curl from the center of the forehead. For several examples of this hair style see F. Antonovich, "Les Metamorphoses divines d'Alexander", Paris, 1996.) This bust is also analogous to the marble bust of Caracalla that is seen in the Staatliche Museen in Berlin, Germany. (See "The Art of Rome" by Bernard Andreae, Abrams Pub., New York, 1977, no. 551.) This marble bust dates circa 212 A.D., and was created on the occasion of Caracalla becoming sole ruler. This marble bust also has large hair curls and bare arms/upper chest, as seen in the bronze bust offered here. This piece is approximately 3 inches high and is mounted on a custom stand. This piece has a superb dark green patina with spotty dark red highlights. Ex: American private collection. Ex: Sotheby's Antiquities New York, Dec. 2006, no. 122. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Cute Roman Bronze Seated Dog: X-Mildenberg
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Pre AD 1000 item# 594369
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$825.00
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This little Roman bronze dog dates circa 2nd-3rd century A.D., and is approximately 1.5 inches high. This cute little Roman bronze dog is seen seated and looks perfectly calm. This type of piece was collected by Leo Mildenberg of Zurich, Switzerland who built a collection of ancient animal art. His collection were all of animals that did not display any signs of violence. This piece is mounted on a custom black plexiglas and white marble base. This complete piece has a dark green patina and has extremely fine detail. Ex: Christie's Antiquities London, Leo Mildenberg Collection of Ancient Animals, October 2004, no. 372. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Roman Bronze Sestertius as Scale Armour
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Pre AD 1000 item# 872310
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$325.00
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This interesting Roman bronze coin is a bronze Sestertius, and was minted circa 60-68 A.D., and depicts a bust of Nero, who was in power circa 54-68 A.D. This coin is approximately 37mm in diameter, is Very Good quality, and has a nice dark green patina with heavy dark green/brown deposits. There are also four holes seen on this piece, and this likely facilitated leather ties which allowed this piece to be fitted into a composite corslet as scale armour. (See attached drawing.) This type of of Roman armour is known, but is extremely rare, and was not often manufactured by the Romans, although the blending of metal leaves interwoven with fabric, was known by the Greeks as early as the 12th century B.C. in Cyprus. (See "Warfare in Ancient Greece" by Tim Everson, Sutton Pub., United Kingdom, 2004, p. 154-155.) This piece could have served as armour during this period, as Rome had a brief, but quick civil war with four Emperors circa 68-69 A.D. This piece also has a deep mark in the center of the coin that was probably a test cut, rather than a battle mark. The test cut was done in order to test that the metal was 100% bronze, rather than a bronze plated "fourree". This test cut was also probably done when this coin was no longer in circulation, and could have been struck circa 68 A.D., when Nero was replaced by Galba. This coin is an interesting piece that had a dual utility. A custom black plexiglas stand is included, and the piece is easily removable as it is attached with clay. Ex: Private English collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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