Lot 16A
Ancient Italy, Umbro Sabellian Culture, ca. 5th century BCE. A rare and arresting vestige of Italic devotion, this schematic leaded bronze figure depicts a nude male worshipper standing in ritual pose, his arms extended and legs parted in a gesture of offering or invocation. Cast from a flat sheet mold and reduced to its most essential human features, the figure is emblematic of Umbro Sabellian votive art in its abstraction, reverence, and timeless presence. Despite its minimalism, the form pulses with human detail: small circular depressions mark the nipples and navel, while the genitals are rendered as a distinct projection. On the face, incised circular eyes and a linear brow define a rudimentary visage, with a notched hairline etched just beneath the crown. The whole figure is animated by a sense of balance and purpose - at once stylized and powerfully direct. Size: 0.8" W x 1.9" H (2 cm x 4.8 cm)
Such figures were typically offered in sanctuaries or deposited in sacred groves and springs, likely serving as votive representations of the dedicants themselves. The exaggerated proportions and flattened planes are characteristic of pre-Roman Italic bronze traditions, especially among the Umbrian and Sabellian tribes that flourished in the central Apennines. Both a personal testament and a sacred object, this figure distills the essential relationship between mortal and divine - humble, unadorned, and unwavering in its silent gesture toward the gods.
Cf. Getty Museum, 82.AB.21.
Provenance: private Dayton, Maryland, USA collection; ex-private F. B. collection, Maryland, USA, acquired between 1990 to 2010
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#195848
- Condition: Missing ends of arms and lower part of proper left leg. Surface wear as shown. Rich patina throughout and liberal preservation of detail.
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