RARE HELLENISTIC MARBLE BEAR

Ca. 200 BC A substantial Hellenistic marble sculpture portraying a seated bear gracefully leaning on its left arm and positioned atop a flat discoid base, subtly turning its body to the left while lifting its head. The bear's features include an open muzzle, prominent nostrils, and wide-open eyes, with meticulously carved fur. The significance of the bear in ancient Greek culture is often linked to the goddess Artemis. Bears were revered as sacred to Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, wilderness, and wild animals. Young girls participating in the Brauronia festival of Attica were known as Arktoi or "little bears", possibly engaging in wild coming-of-age rituals before being subsumed into the ideals of Athenian womanhood.
Size: 650mm x 370mm; Weight: 100+kg
Provenance: Property of a London gentleman; Ex. French collection, Paris, Parisian Gallery, 1970-90. This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter.
This piece is accompanied by a historical report from Alessandro Neri, an international Cultural Heritage expert based in Florence, Italy.
21000
Estimate: GBP 30000 - 60000