780 - Etruscan Bronze Lion Head. Central Italy, late 6th century B.C. A decorative fitting with roaring mouth and protruding fangs and tongue, the whiskers depicted in raised radiating ridges, with lidded, elongated almond-shaped eyes and small, round ears; mounted on a custom-made display stand. Cf. Curtis, D., 'The Barberini Tomb' in Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome, 1925, Vol. 5 (1925), pp. 9-52, pl.30, for a similar head of a lion; Canciani, F. and Von Hase, F.W., La tomba Bernardini di Palestrina, Rome, 1979, p.56, no.67; p.57, no.69, for parallels; Jucker, I., Italy of the Etruscans, The Israel Museum in Jerusalem, pp.290-291, no.387, for a head of a lion. Testimonianze d arte Etrusca in collezioni private Ticinesi, collection of Banca della Svizzera Italiana, 1986, p.31, no.7.2, illus. 1.11 kg total, 17.5 cm including stand (6 7/8 in.). (For this specific lot, 5% import VAT is applicable on the hammer price.)

Etruscan Bronze Lion Head. Central Italy, late 6th century B.C. A decorative fitting with roaring mouth and protruding fangs and tongue, the whiskers depicted in raised radiating ridges, with lidded, elongated almond-shaped eyes and small, round ears; mounted on a custom-made display stand. Cf. Curtis, D., 'The Barberini Tomb' in Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome, 1925, Vol. 5 (1925), pp. 9-52, pl.30, for a similar head of a lion; Canciani, F. and Von Hase, F.W., La tomba Bernardini di Palestrina, Rome, 1979, p.56, no.67; p.57, no.69, for parallels; Jucker, I., Italy of the Etruscans, The Israel Museum in Jerusalem, pp.290-291, no.387, for a head of a lion. Testimonianze d arte Etrusca in collezioni private Ticinesi, collection of Banca della Svizzera Italiana, 1986, p.31, no.7.2, illus. 1.11 kg total, 17.5 cm including stand (6 7/8 in.). (For this specific lot, 5% import VAT is applicable on the hammer price.) with Christie s, New York, 8 June 2001, no.58. Donati collection, Lugano, prior to 1982. Collection of Banca della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, prior to 1986. Formerly in the Bourgknecht collection, Switzerland. Accompanied by Art Loss certificate no.S00123227. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.13230-249992. This head was probably, as was the parallel head of the Barberini Tomb, originally attached to a magnificent bronze cauldron. These large cauldrons of hammered bronze were realised with the heads and necks of two lions and two gryphons attached to the rim. The cauldrons were spherical in form and rested on a stand. 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.