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Lot 97

A Roman bronze herm of a victorious athlete

6 July 2021, 15:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £1,020 inc. premium

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A Roman bronze herm of a victorious athlete
Circa 2nd-3rd Century A.D.
Crowned with a wreath with three applied rosettes in his wavy hair, which is bound in a ponytail, the face with large eyes and recessed pupils, with furrowed brow and full lips, the interior filled and with remains of an iron tang on the underside, 5.1cm high

Footnotes

Provenance:
Private collection, Europe.
Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, New York, 11 December 2002, lot 207.

The incised hair of the athlete is drawn into a distinctive ponytail at the back of the head. This hairstyle is known from depictions of athletes such as boxers and wrestlers. For an Alexandrian bronze figure of a boxer or wrestler sporting a similar ponytail hairstyle, see the Cleveland Museum of Art, acc. no. 1985.137.

Additional information

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