297 - Celtic Limestone Bust of a Bearded Man. Ex Rupert Wace Ltd, 2018

Celtic Limestone Bust of a Bearded Man. Ex Rupert Wace Ltd, 2018 Iron Age, 1st century B.C.-1st century A.D. Modelled in the round with raised almond-shaped eyes, raised forehead connected to a long nose, raised mouth turned downwards, large ears and short beard around the jawline; long hair tied to the back secured with a headband. A head from Marseille carved in relief with a comparable shaped face, implied integral socle and of seemingly similar character is illustrated in Paul Jacobsthal, 'Early Celtic Art' (reprinted Oxford, 1969), plate 6, fig. 7; a veiled female head found at Entremont in France also shares some common features; see M. Pobe, 'The Art of Roman Gaul: A Thousand Years of Celtic Art and Culture', London, 1961, p. 55, no. 39; for a discussion of these enigmatic heads, see J. Billingsley, 'A Stony Gaze: Investigating Celtic and Other Stone Heads', Taunton, 1998. 76 kg, 56 cm (22 in.). [A video of this lot is available to view on TimeLine Auctions Website] Ex John Moor, York, UK; thence by descent. with Rupert Wace, 2018. Private collection, UK. TimeLine Auctions follows a rigorous vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists. See our website for more information.