A ROMAN MARBLE FIGURE OF EROS BOUND, CIRCA 2ND CENTURY A.D.
Auction Closed
July 2, 04:42 PM GMT
Estimate
25,000 - 35,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
A ROMAN MARBLE FIGURE OF EROS BOUND, CIRCA 2ND CENTURY A.D.
probably from a table support, the winged deity standing with his hands bound behind his back, his hair arranged in a top-knot and falling in voluted ringlets over the ears, a large quiver containing his bow and arrows behind; nose, part of left breast, part of right wing, half of left wing, right lower leg incl. foot, left foot, plinth and support restored, parts of wings formerly restored.
Total height 46 cm.; height without plinth 44.5 cm.
European private collection, circa 18th Century (based on restoration techniques)
Sotheby & Co., London, March 27th, 1961, no. 97
Miklós Rózsa (1907-1995), Los Angeles, California, acquired at the above sale
Santa Barbara Museum of Art, inv. no. 1995.26.66, by bequest from the above (Sotheby’s, New York, December 10th, 1999, no. 396, illus.)
Khader, M. Baidun & Sons, Jerusalem
acquired by the present owner in 2009
Published
Anna M. Riccomini, “Amore punito. Intorno a due sculture delle raccolte di Carlo Emanuele I di Savoia,“ Ricerche di storia dell’arte, vol. 124, 2018, p. 58, note 30
The oversize quiver was probably recarved in the 18th Century from a fragmentary tree or pillar serving as a table support (trapezophoros); cf. related statuettes in Torino (Riccomini, op. cit., p. 54f., fig. 8f.), and Aphrodisias (S. Feuser, Monopodia, 2013, p. 218, no. 53, pl. 12,5-6). The motif of the bound god of love can be explained as punishment for his frivolous and reckless handling of the love darts, cf. K. Fittschen, in: id. and J. Bergemann, eds., Katalog der Skulpturen der Sammlung Wallmoden, 2015, p. 65.