Ancient Roman Terra Sigillata Fragment with Bust of...

Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid. Rare ancient Roman Terra Sigillata fragment with moulded relief decoration and a warm reddish-brown slip. The composition preserves a frontal bust with youthful, beardless and large-eyed features associated with late Theodosian Imperial portraiture. The bust is particularly comparable to representations of Emperor Honorius. To the right is a figure interpreted as the goddess Epona, flanked by two horses. The lower section retains part of the vessel's moulded border. Very interesting piece. -> Terra sigillata was a high-quality Roman tableware distinguished by its fine fabric and characteristic red slip. Relief-decorated examples were produced using moulds, allowing figural, mythological and ornamental scenes to be repeated across multiple vessels Size: ± 68 x 58 mm Condition: Fragment in good solid condition with good quality depictions. Minor surface irregularities and signs of wear consistent with age and use. Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request for all lots with a hammer price of €100 or higher. -> The Celtic Goddess Epona was a protector of horses and a goddess of fertility. Epona was one of the few Celtic divinities worshipped in Rome itself and was widespread in the Roman Empire between the first and third century AD. During the Gallo-Roman period, Epona was widely worshipped by the military, and in particular by the cavalry. -> Honorius was a son of Theodosius I and Emperor of the Western Roman Empire from 393 to 423 AD. His long reign was marked by political instability, conflict with invading Germanic groups and the sack of Rome by the Visigoths in 410 AD. Much of the imperial administration was conducted from Ravenna, which became the Western imperial capital in 402 AD. Imperial portraits of the late Theodosian period were highly formalised, with individual likeness often subordinate to an idealised image of authority. Honorius, Arcadius, Theodosius II and Valentinian III were commonly portrayed as youthful and beardless, with large prominent eyes, a small mouth, an oval face and carefully arranged hair, frequently combined with a pearl diadem, helmet or military dress. The bust on this fragment appears particularly comparable to portraits of Honorius on gold solidi, although one of the other Theodosian Emperors cannot be excluded.

Estimation:€250

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