ITEM: Statuette of a horse
MATERIAL: Bronze
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 1st - 3rd Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 40 mm x 39 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex Austrian private collection, acquired before 1990s

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 3 to 5 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the hammer price, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

In the Roman period, statuettes of horses held various symbolic and practical roles in Roman society. Horses were crucial to the Roman military, agriculture, and transportation, and their representation in art and statuary reflected their importance. Small bronze or terracotta horse statuettes were popular as decorative items in domestic settings, showcasing the Romans' appreciation for the beauty and strength of these animals. These statuettes were often crafted with great attention to detail, capturing the anatomy and spirit of the horse in a miniature form.

Horse statuettes also had a significant role in religious practices and rituals. In the Roman pantheon, various deities were associated with horses, such as Neptune, the god of the sea, who was often depicted with sea horses. Epona, a Celtic-Roman goddess, was specifically linked to horses and was worshipped as a protector of horses and riders. As such, horse statuettes were used as votive offerings in temples dedicated to these deities or as personal talismans for those seeking divine favor or protection for their equine companions.

Additionally, horse statuettes were employed in funerary contexts. They were sometimes placed in tombs or used as grave markers to symbolize the deceased's affinity for horses or their status in the afterlife. The Roman belief in an afterlife and the importance of personal possessions in burial practices led to the inclusion of various symbolic items, including horse statuettes, to accompany individuals into the next realm.