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Barnebys HQ
Brahegatan 10
BOX 5038
114 37 Stockholm
All auctions / Ancient Art / Ancient Roman
Ancient Roman Bronze Bird — A Symbol of Divine Omens, Protection and Good Fortune An exceptionally charming miniature bronze bird — a deeply symbolic creature in the Roman world, associated with divine messages, favorable omens, protection, and the mysterious relationship between mankind and the gods. This evocative ancient Roman bronze bird statuette is beautifully rendered in a compact and intimate form. The bird is depicted resting calmly with its wings folded against the body, its head raised and alert, creating an appealing combination of serenity and vigilance. Birds occupied a fascinating place in Roman religion and everyday life. Their appearance, movement, and flight could be interpreted as signs from the divine world, most famously through the Roman practice of augury. Certain priests, known as augures, observed birds and other natural signs when interpreting whether the gods favored an important undertaking. Beyond formal religious practice, bird imagery could also carry more personal associations with protection, prosperity, fertility, domestic harmony, and good fortune. Small bronze representations were produced in many forms throughout the Roman world and could serve as decorative objects, votive offerings, personal symbols, or fittings attached to larger objects. This particular example possesses remarkable character despite its modest dimensions. The rounded head and short beak give the bird a gentle but attentive expression, while the carefully engraved feathers of the folded wings provide texture and movement across the compact body. The small projecting tab with a circular perforation is especially intriguing and suggests that the figure may originally have been intended for attachment or suspension, although its precise original function cannot be established from appearance alone. The naturally aged bronze surface, with darker patination and lighter highlights across the raised details, beautifully emphasizes the contours of the bird and the engraved plumage. Its untouched appearance gives the object a strong archaeological character and a wonderfully evocative presence. A highly appealing miniature from the Roman world, combining ancient craftsmanship with the enduring symbolism of birds as intermediaries between the earthly and divine realms. Culture: Roman Empire Material: Bronze Date: ca. 1st–4th century AD Height: 39 mm Weight: 25.63 gr Condition: Excellent ancient condition with well-preserved details and attractive aged bronze patina.
Estimate:£169.52
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Estimate:
£169.52
OCT 17 | 10:00 PM
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£763.42
