Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 5th century CE. A beautiful pottery protome of a bull, with fine details of horns, fur, and even the wrinkles of flesh around the nose and neck. A protome is a type of bust made by pressing a thin layer of terracotta into a single mold. They were made to be decorations on pottery or other sculptures. These were first made in Rhodes, but from the early fifth century BCE onwards they spread throughout Greece; later, the Romans copied the style and made it their own. Originally, this piece would have been brightly painted. The bull was a symbol of power and virility in ancient Roman society. This is a fine example of the detailed artwork that adorned much of Roman pottery and made their lives brighter and more beautiful. Size: 5" L x 5.5" W x 5" H (12.7 cm x 14 cm x 12.7 cm)

Provenance: Ex-Private Orange County, CA collection

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#118222

Intact. Extensive rootmarks to interior, with some dirt deposits over surface.