Rare Roman Bone Doll of Venus
Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 3rd to 4th century CE. A charming doll meant for a child that is hand-carved from bull or ox bone representing Venus (Greek Aphrodite), the goddess of beauty, passion, and love. The hollow body features an integral skirt around the waist and hips, a pair of low relief necklaces around the neck, and a pair of separately carved bone arms with stocky shoulders pinned to the body via thin wooden dowels. The head exhibits a stylized feminine visage defined by high arching brows that coalesce to form the slender nose, pouty lips, and a centrally parted coiffure topped with a simple diadem. Figures carved from bone are incredibly scarce due to the inherent fragility of the material, so an example with accompanying arms like this example is exceedingly rare. Size: 1.7" W x 5.3" H (4.3 cm x 13.5 cm); 5.8" H (14.7 cm) on included custom stand.
A stylistically similar example, with integral legs and some finer detailing, hammered for GBP 2,750 ($3,545.74) at Christie's, London, South Kensington "Antiquities" auction (sale 5952, October 27, 2009, lot 113).
Another example of a bone doll, with fully articulated legs and arms, hammered for GBP 79,875 ($102,987.63) at Christie's, London, South Kensington "Antiquities" auction (sale 8776, May 2, 2013, lot 125).
Provenance: ex-private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private prominent D.K. collection, New York, USA, acquired in the 2000s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#154057
Condition Report: Repairs to areas of head, neck, and shoulder of one arm, with small chips on some break lines, and adhesive residue along all break lines. Arms reattached to shoulders. Nicks and minor abrasions to body, arms, and head, with light softening to some finer details, minor encrustations within body, and light ossification commensurate with age. Light earthen deposits and smooth surface textures throughout.
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Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 3rd to 4th century CE. A charming doll meant for a child that is hand-carved from bull or ox bone representing Venus (Greek Aphrodite), the goddess of beauty, passion, and love. The hollow body features an integral skirt around the waist and hips, a pair of low relief necklaces around the neck, and a pair of separately carved bone arms with stocky shoulders pinned to the body via thin wooden dowels. The head exhibits a stylized feminine visage defined by high arching brows that coalesce to form the slender nose, pouty lips, and a centrally parted coiffure topped with a simple diadem. Figures carved from bone are incredibly scarce due to the inherent fragility of the material, so an example with accompanying arms like this example is exceedingly rare. Size: 1.7" W x 5.3" H (4.3 cm x 13.5 cm); 5.8" H (14.7 cm) on included custom stand.
A stylistically similar example, with integral legs and some finer detailing, hammered for GBP 2,750 ($3,545.74) at Christie's, London, South Kensington "Antiquities" auction (sale 5952, October 27, 2009, lot 113).
Another example of a bone doll, with fully articulated legs and arms, hammered for GBP 79,875 ($102,987.63) at Christie's, London, South Kensington "Antiquities" auction (sale 8776, May 2, 2013, lot 125).
Provenance: ex-private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private prominent D.K. collection, New York, USA, acquired in the 2000s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#154057
Condition Report: Repairs to areas of head, neck, and shoulder of one arm, with small chips on some break lines, and adhesive residue along all break lines. Arms reattached to shoulders. Nicks and minor abrasions to body, arms, and head, with light softening to some finer details, minor encrustations within body, and light ossification commensurate with age. Light earthen deposits and smooth surface textures throughout.
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