104 - A FINE BRONZE LEAPING STAG, ROMAN, CIRCA 1ST-2ND CENTURY

A FINE BRONZE LEAPING STAG, ROMAN, CIRCA 1ST-2ND CENTURY Shown in mid-leap with raised forelegs and sharply defined cloven hooves, the stag turns its head to the left, its eyes finely incised and antlers branching gracefully. Delicate engraving renders the texture of the fur, while the surface bears a rich dark patina enlivened by mottled malachite and cuprite encrustations. Provenance: The private collection of Dr A. Binkert, Basel, Switzerland. Jean-David Cahn AG, Basel, Switzerland, 26 June 2000, lot 255, sold for CHF 3,480 or approx. EUR 7,700 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing. With Charles Ede Ltd., London, United Kingdom, acquired from Phillip Najmann in 2003. The private collection of Ben Mankowitz, UK, acquired from the above, 21 June 2005, and thence by descent. A copy of an invoice from Charles Ede Ltd., dated 21 June 2005, confirming the dating above, accompanies the lot. Charles Ede Ltd., founded in 1971 by Charles Richard Montague Ede (1921-2002), is recognized as one of the world’s leading dealers in ancient art, specializing in works from Egypt, Greece, and the Roman Empire, as well as early European art before c. 1000 AD. After early ventures in publishing and the arts, Ede turned his attention to antiquities, establishing the firm that now enjoys an international reputation and a prominent presence at major art fairs worldwide. Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, casting irregularities, obvious losses, some warping, signs of weathering and erosion, and encrustations. A small aperture to the belly plugged with an old fill. Overall with a rich dark patina, malachite and cuprite encrustations. Weight: 79.5 g (excl. stand) 131.6 g (incl. stand) Dimensions: Length 6.8 cm (excl. stand), 10.2 cm (incl. stand) With an associated fitted wood stand. (2) Literature comparison: Compare a related bronze figure of a deer, dated 1 st-2 nd century, discovered during the excavation of a house at the edge of a Roman road between Brèves and Entrains, and now in the Musée Rolin, Autun, illustrated by Annemarie Kaufmann-Heinimann, Götter und Lararien aus Augusta Raurica, 1998, p. 242, fig. 193. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 21 April 2021, lot 42 Price: USD 11,250 or approx. EUR 13,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A Roman bronze stag, circa 1 st century Expert remark: Note the size (13.6 cm).