Solid Bronze Sword Hilt with the Head of a Goddess

Culture: Roman

Period: 1st century A.D.

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 10.8 cm long

Price: 2 400 Euro

Ref: 3763

Provenance: Auctioned at Gorny & Mosch in Munich on 10 October 2000, lot 2530 (incorrectly described there as a bread stamp). Acquired by a Swiss private collection. Subsequently sold at Cahn Auctions in Basel on 19 September 2008, lot 18. Presumably sold to the United States at that time. Auctioned at Ira & Larry Goldberg Auction in Los Angeles on 29 October 2009, lot 850. Most recently in a U.S. private collection.

Condition: The nose is slightly chipped, otherwise very well preserved and unrestored.

Description: A solid bronze sword hilt that was once held by a life-sized statue. The oval pommel features a relief depiction of a woman, likely the goddess Artemis. Her wavy hair is parted in the middle and bound at the back with a ribbed band. The face, with its rounded cheeks and full lips, has a friendly expression. The hilt itself follows the shape of the grip. Broken in the upper section and mounted there.