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Description

Larger Than Life-Size Roman Bronze Foot Insert From a Statue. 1st-3rd century A.D. Hollow-formed front left sandaled foot with draped hem of a vestis talaris across the rear edge and tiered sole to the footwear, traces of gilding; supplied with a custom-made wooden stand. For a possible similar sandaled foot of goddess Tutela see Boucher, S., Inventaire des Collections Publiques Françaises - 17 Vienne: Bronzes Antiques, Paris, 1971, pp.52-55, no.13; for similar pieces see Boucher, S., Tassinari, S., Musée de la civilisation Gallo-Romaine a Lyon, Bronze Antiques, Lyon, 1976, nos.83-85; also Cooley, A.E., Cooley, M.G.L., Pompeii and Herculaneum, New York, 2014; Sebesta, J.L., & Bonfante, L.,The World of Roman Costume, Madison, 2001. 847 grams total, 14 cm (5 1/2 in.). The detailed bronze foot exhibits an incredible rendering of the smallest details; its dimensions suggest that the statue to which it belonged was nearly a human size sculpture, possibly a goddess, based on the footwear. Statues of the gods and goddesses were usually gilded. Acquired in Germany in 2001. Acquired by the present owner from the above. 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 search certificate number no.12192-222323. (For this specific lot, 5% import VAT is applicable on the hammer price.)

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Larger Than Life-Size Roman Bronze Foot Insert From a Statue

Estimate 4 000 - 6 000 GBP
Starting price 3 600 GBP

* Not including buyer’s premium.
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Sale fees: 35 %
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For sale on Tuesday 03 Sep - 12:00 (BST)
londres, United Kingdom
TimeLine Auctions
+441277814121
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Larger Than Life-Size Roman Bronze Sandaled Foot. 2nd-3rd century A.D. Modelled in the round and originally part of a monumental statue, the naturalistic right foot encased in a trochades leather sandal with median reversed tongue secured with side straps and thick looped laces; the thick platform sole slightly curved, toes and nails well defined; mounted on a substantial custom-made display stand. Cf. Racinet, A., The complete costume history, from ancient times to 19th century, Köln, 2003, pp.52-53, nos.23 and 36; 76-77, nos.10, 24, 38, 44 for similar footwear; Sebesta, J.L., and Bonfante, L., The World of Roman Costume, Madison, 2001; a similar type of footwear appears on a Roman bronze statue, today in Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio, acc. no. 1986.5, believed to portray Emperor Marcus Aurelius in the guise of a simple itinerant philosopher rather than as a general or a nobleman; another example appears on a huge statue from the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, British Museum accession no.1857,1220.232, reconstructed from more than seventy fragments recovered from the site. 5.84 kg total, foot: 30 cm wide (11 3/4 in.). The detailed bronze foot with a possible variant of the Greek trochades sandal, known to be a traveller's sandal, is all that remains of the once monumental statue. The trochades was a sturdy traveller's open boot of Greek origin with a flat sole. In the Consular Age it was also used by officers and guardsmen. Roman sandals consisted usually of a leather sole attached to the foot with interlacing thongs. German art market. European private collection, 1970s-early 2000s. Acquired from the above; thence by descent. Private collection, London, UK. 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 search certificate number no.12176-221443. [A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions Website]