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Barnebys HQ
Brahegatan 10
BOX 5038
114 37 Stockholm
All auctions / Ancient Art / Late Roman/Early Byzantine Bronze A strap junction with...
Solid cast bronze three-way strap distributor, designed as an equestrian harness fitting. At the centre, where the three circular rings converge, is a projecting three-dimensional bull's head with simplified but expressive features. A Christian cross is engraved above the animal using a punched-dot technique. On either side are two oval bronze plates decorated with incised, stylised vine branches bearing clusters of grapes. The individual grapes are rendered using a distinctive ring-and-dot motif. The combination of the animal protome, Christian cross and vine ornament creates a particularly rich decorative scheme, while the olive-green patina and minimal mineral encrustation enhance the object's archaeological character. This bronze harness fitting dates to the Early Byzantine period, approximately the 6th–7th century AD, a period marked by the transformation of the late Roman world and the consolidation of Christianity throughout the Byzantine Empire. Equestrian equipment remained an essential part of everyday life, military activity and long-distance transport, and bronze fittings could combine practical functionality with elaborate decorative and symbolic elements. The bull, a long-established motif in Greco-Roman art associated with strength and vitality, appears here together with a prominently engraved Christian cross, reflecting the coexistence of classical artistic traditions and Christian symbolism characteristic of Late Antique and Early Byzantine material culture. Condition: Very good condition. The metal structure is complete and stable, with the relief of the bull's head and the incised decorative details remaining clearly legible. The surface displays an attractive olive-green patina with minimal encrustation. Provenance: Private collection, Rhineland, M. W., acquired on the German art market in the 1990s. Acquired in Germany, 2026. Similar Examples A closely related example is preserved in the Royal Ontario Museum, Canada (Object No. 427400), catalogued as a “Harness attachment with a bull's head” and dated to the Late Roman–Early Byzantine period. It is made of bronze and displays a highly comparable three-ring configuration surmounted by a bull's head. Another close parallel is a Byzantine bronze harness fitting dated to approximately the 5th–7th century AD, featuring three rings, a bull's head and a Christian cross engraved above the animal. Comparable bull's-head strap spreaders are also represented in the European archaeological and antiquities market, confirming the established typology of decorated bronze fittings associated with Roman and Byzantine equestrian equipment. Shipping rates includes insurances for full value of the item. Statement seen by Catawiki. The seller guarantees that he is entitled to ship this lot. The seller will take care that any necessary permits will be arranged. The seller will inform the buyer about this if this takes more than a few days. Due to Switzerland customs regulations, this lot cannot be sold to customers residing in Switzerland
Estimate:£934.37
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Estimate:
£934.37
OCT 17 | 10:00 PM
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