Roman Statuette of Apollo

2nd-3rd century AD. A bronze lar figure of Pythian Apollo, depicted nude with a tall and slender body, carrying a quiver with bossed shoulder strap on his back; his left arm raised at an angle and fingers forming a circular opening, this would probably originally have housed a bow, the right hand extended forward and holding a patera; the hair gathered in a bun at the nape of the neck with a central partition and long locks falling on his shoulders, the hair skilfully tied in two raised locks on top of the head; mounted on a base and housed in a custom-made leatherette case. See Rolland, H., Bronzes Antiques De Haute Provence, Paris, 1965, item 443; see also for another example of Apollo in a similar pose cf. Zadoks-Josephus, A.N., Jitta Peters, W.J.T., Roman Bronze Statuettes from the Netherlands, vol. I, Groningen, 1967, pp.2 & 3, pl.1; for discussion on statuettes of Apollo with patera in cult places, see Fogolari, G. & Gambacurta, G., Materiali preromani e romani del santuario di Lagole di Calalzo al Museo di Pieve di Cadore (Collezioni e Musei Archeologici del Veneto, 44), Roma, 2001; Bolla, M., ‘Bronzi figurati romani da luoghi di culto dell’Italia settentrionale’ in LANX, 20 (2015), pp. 49-143. 355 grams total, 17.5cm including stand (7"). From the collection of a Kensington gentleman; previously in the Weber collection, 1980s; accompanied by an academic report by Dr. Raffaele D’Amato; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no. 10751-177419. These small statuettes of divinities could have been used in a public cult milieu or for domestic worship. Four statuettes of Apollo were found from the Sanctuary of Lagole, in the province of Belluno (Italy) (Fogolari & Gambacurta, 2001, pp.130-134 nos.150-153), one of noteworthy dimensions (circa 30cm high), also holding a patera in the right hand. Within the small bronze statuettes found in the Lagole Sanctuary, the most represented divinities were Hercules and Apollo. [A video of this lot can be viewed on the Timeline Auctions website]
Condition Report: Fine condition.