Celtic Bronze Boar – “The Bristol Boar”

Culture: Northwestern Europe

Period: 1st century B.C. to 1st century A.D.

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 4 cm x 5 cm

Price: Sold

Ref: 5126

Provenance: Chris Rudd Gallery, published in catalogue 58, 2001, page 27. Thence collection Tony Goodchild, acquired on 14 June 2011. Accompanied by the original invoice and a copy of the catalogue page.

Condition: One very small ancient missing part on the right forepaw, otherwise excellently preserved.

Description: Rare bronze statuette of a seated boar with finely worked out features, slightly open mouth and a magnificent fur. By all accounts it was found in Bristol, hence this boar is also known and published as “The Bristol Boar”. Hogs were holy animals for the Celts, who believed that they originated from the “other world”. Therefore depictions of boars are found as funerary offerings, as crests, as standards and as decoration on torques. And not to forget: A hog brings fortune until today. Mounted.