Rare Ancient British Celtic Stone Face
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Description
Northern Europe, Britain, Celtic period (Iron Age), ca. 500 to 1 BCE. A round, grey river cobble carved with a simple anthropomorphic face of classic Iron Age Celtic style. Long, deep grooves form lentoid eyes, a straight nose, high cheekbones, and an open mouth. The stylized face has an expression scholars of Celtic art describe as "blank" or "open". Comes with custom stand. Size: 3.35" W x 3.7" H (8.5 cm x 9.4 cm); height on stand: 4.8" (12.2 cm).
Celtic art from this period is often composed of simple lines and curves rich in hidden meaning that we puzzle over today. The Celtic world covered a huge geographic area in western and northern Europe, but had a unified artistic style. Archaeologist Barry Cunliffe has written about how these disparate communities used travel by ship to cover vast distances and how sharing iconography like this face created a common cultural background. It is very interesting to realize that Celtic art of this style coexisted in Europe at the same time as Classical Greece's increasingly realistic sculpture and painting.
Provenance: Ex-Jones collection, York, England
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#119935
Celtic art from this period is often composed of simple lines and curves rich in hidden meaning that we puzzle over today. The Celtic world covered a huge geographic area in western and northern Europe, but had a unified artistic style. Archaeologist Barry Cunliffe has written about how these disparate communities used travel by ship to cover vast distances and how sharing iconography like this face created a common cultural background. It is very interesting to realize that Celtic art of this style coexisted in Europe at the same time as Classical Greece's increasingly realistic sculpture and painting.
Provenance: Ex-Jones collection, York, England
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#119935
Condition
Repaired from two pieces.
Buyer's Premium
- 24.5%
Rare Ancient British Celtic Stone Face
Estimate $400 - $600
8 bidders are watching this item.
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Item located in Louisville, CO, usSee Policy for Shipping
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