Campana Relief with a Male Sphinx

Culture: Roman

Period: 1st half of 1st century A.D.

Material: Terracotta

Dimensions: 21.8 cm x 27.5 cm

Price: Sold

Ref: 3478

Provenance: From the collection William G. Butler acquired in 1978 from Harmer Rooke Numismatics Ltd. in New York. With the original certificate from 1978.

Condition: Professionally reassembled from three pieces.

Description: A Campana relief with beautiful color remains depicting a male recumbent sphinx. His bearded head with red hair, which is pulled back to a bun. In front of the sphinx stands an unclothed archer en face. He wears a red colored crown and also has a red colored full beard. He holds in his left stretched out hand an artistically curved bow. On the right image area plants like those which could grow in the Nile. This Campana relief belongs to the so-called "Sima", which served as decoration in the lower part of the roof. Typical for Sima, like for the present relief, is the upper border with Ionian Cymation (egg-and-dart pattern) and a smooth strip at the bottom. See for the depiction of the male sphinx, the plants and the archer the Campana relief in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna with the inventory number V34. Mounted.