ANCIENT ROMAN BRONZE PHALERA WITH CUPID
Ca. 200-300 AD. A bronze-cast phalera mount in the form of Cupid (Greek Eros) with fleshy features and curly hair. His cheeks chubby portray the features of youth, his stylised wings between his shoulders. An important object possibly a military phalera, with the upper body of Cupid in high relief. This was likely to have been worn on the breastplate of a soldier or formed part of a chariot fitting. Objects formed of bronze were ubiquitous in the Roman world, being used by the Roman military, for instance, for both practical and decorative purposes. The phalera is the sculptured disk (typically formed of bronze) on the breastplate, which was worn by Roman soldiers as a reward for the outstanding service, or as representation of military rank. In Roman mythology, Cupid (known as Eros to the Greeks) was the god of love. He is generally represented as an aesthetically chubby boy with wings, who carries a bow and a quiver of arrows. He is normally shown as a follower or acolyte of the goddess Aphrodite. Size: L:148mm (with stand) / W:110mm ; 735g. Provenance: Property of a North London professional; previously acquired on the UK art market in early 1990s.

Estimate: GBP 750 - 1500