974 - 11 small Roman bronze artifacts, 1st–3rd centuries A.D.

11 small Roman bronze artifacts, 1st–3rd centuries A.D. 1–4) Handles and knobs from Roman vessels: 1) Sleeping Eros with crossed legs above a theater mask. His back is reclined; his left arm, over which a garment hangs, is extended horizontally, resting on a “support” (e.g., the rim of a vessel); his right arm is bent, and his head rests on his hand. Beautiful olive-green patina. Charming motif. Height 8.1 cm. 2) Long fragment of a ribbon handle, with a finial at the bottom in the form of a finely crafted Medusa head. The eyes were originally inlaid with silver; remnants of this inlay are preserved. Above the Medusa head is an inlaid, horizontal silver band. Beautiful dark, almost black patina. Length 13.5 cm. 3) Handle from a jug. At the top, it features forked prongs that were soldered to the rim; furthermore, a leaf curved upward serves as a thumb rest. At the bottom, a leaf-shaped attachment. Length 12.4 cm. 4) Handle with a ring attachment; on one side, the tail fin of a dolphin curved in an S-shape with an open mouth, pectoral fins, and dorsal fins. Green patina. Length 12.5 cm. 5) Curved foot from a small vessel. In the upper part, a lion’s head; at the bottom, a big cat’s paw. Olive-green patina. Length 6.5 cm. 6–7) Two latches for closing wooden boxes, one narrow, the other wide. Lengths 8.5 cm and 8.7 cm. 8) Metal fitting in the shape of a small head wearing a Phrygian cap. Hollow-worked with a rivet on the back. Height 2.3 cm. 9) Small silver bird, originally part of an early Roman brooch. Length 2.2 cm. 10) Solid guard from a Roman knife with two openwork cutouts on the sides; one side also features a stylized animal head. Magnificent, dark patina. Length 4.8 cm. 11) Round, fur-shaped fitting with a hole in the center. Diameter 3.8 cm. CULTURAL HERITAGE! Provenance: Private collection in southern Germany (acquired from an estate), purchased by the father between the 1970s and 1990s from art dealers in southern Germany. Condition: I -