Lot 77A
Romano-Celtic, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A rare pair of copper-lead alloy head appliques, each rendered with distinctive facial detail and stylistic traits bridging Roman and Celtic traditions. The first depicts a male head wearing a Phrygian cap, its peaked form cascading over a finely modeled brow. Wide almond-shaped eyes, deeply recessed pupils, and incised locks of hair lend the visage a sense of intensity, while the Phrygian cap links the figure to depictions of Eastern deities, mythological characters such as Attis, or even personifications of exotic lands within the Roman imagination. The second head presents a softer visage, the rounder contours of the cheeks and stylized locks of hair recalling the schematic portraiture often found on provincial decorative fittings. Size of larger (head with cap): 1" W x 0.9" H (2.5 cm x 2.3 cm); 3" H (7.6 cm) on included custom stand.
Both appliques were likely mounted to larger objects - perhaps furniture, horse trappings, or military gear - where their anthropomorphic presence would have carried apotropaic or decorative significance. Examples of Romano-Celtic appliques of this type are noted in regional collections across Britain and Gaul, where hybridized ornament embodied both local artistry and imperial style. Together, these two faces capture the expressive range and cultural fusion of the Roman frontier world.
Provenance: private Thousand Oaks, California, USA collection, acquired 1970s to 2000s
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#197246
- Condition: Both have weathering to surface commensurate with age, but otherwise liberal remaining detail and rich patina.
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