Roman Silver Votive Applique
2nd-3rd century AD. A votive silver embossed cult plaque of trapezoid shape with embossed facing figures of four Olympic goddesses, from left to right Hera-Juno and Athena-Minerva holding a spear and a four-crested (tetrafaleros) helmet, Aphrodite-Venus and Demeter-Ceres; remains of a hole for fastening on the right side. See, for a plaque in similar style, wrongly dated at 4th century BC, Eisenberg, J., Art of the Ancient World, vol.IX, 1997, no.133. 5.7 grams, 17.5cm (7"). Property of a gentleman from Vienna; from his private collection formed since 1970. Similar votive plaques, made of thin sheets of silver, cut and impressed to look like brow diadems, are known from many different provinces of the Roman Empire, although the style of this artefact is most probably linked to the Danubian provinces. They were pinned up in temples or shrines as votives to a variety of deities, who are usually named in a dedication. This example was probably dedicated to the most important female divinities of the Roman pantheon. [No Reserve] For this specific lot, 5% import VAT is applicable on the hammer price
Condition Report: Fair condition, repaired.
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2nd-3rd century AD. A votive silver embossed cult plaque of trapezoid shape with embossed facing figures of four Olympic goddesses, from left to right Hera-Juno and Athena-Minerva holding a spear and a four-crested (tetrafaleros) helmet, Aphrodite-Venus and Demeter-Ceres; remains of a hole for fastening on the right side. See, for a plaque in similar style, wrongly dated at 4th century BC, Eisenberg, J., Art of the Ancient World, vol.IX, 1997, no.133. 5.7 grams, 17.5cm (7"). Property of a gentleman from Vienna; from his private collection formed since 1970. Similar votive plaques, made of thin sheets of silver, cut and impressed to look like brow diadems, are known from many different provinces of the Roman Empire, although the style of this artefact is most probably linked to the Danubian provinces. They were pinned up in temples or shrines as votives to a variety of deities, who are usually named in a dedication. This example was probably dedicated to the most important female divinities of the Roman pantheon. [No Reserve] For this specific lot, 5% import VAT is applicable on the hammer price
Condition Report: Fair condition, repaired.