Etruscan Bronze Statuette of Poseidon

Culture: Etruscan

Period: 4th-3rd century B.C.

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 11.5 cm high

Price: Sold

Ref: 4057

Provenance: Morven collection, acquired in Israel between 1950 and 1960. Royal Athena Gallery New York. Christie’s sale in New York on 8 June 2004, lot 438. Most recently in a Portuguese private collection.

Condition: The middle spike of the trident missing, otherwise intact and with beautiful, dark green patina.

Description: Solid bronze statuette of Poseidon, the god of the Sea and other waters depicted nude with his weight on the right leg, the left leg bent and put forward sideways. A dolphin lies over the left arm stretched forward, in his right raised hand holding a trident. The god’s round face is bearded, with short hair, a filet framing forehead and face semi-circularly. The legs are connected with a bronze bracket, which suggests that the statuette once crowned a high-quality vessel or another metal object. Published in: “Gods and Mortals No. 7”, New York 1989. Mounted.