Celtic Tripod Altar of a Bull Deity

Culture: Celtic

Period: 2nd century B.C.

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 6.8 cm high

Price: 2 400 Euro

Ref: 5238

Provenance: British private collection, acquired prior to 2000. Thence in a collection in Cambridgeshire. Last in the English art market.

Condition: Unrestored, a small corrosion hole on the upper side, otherwise intact.

Description: Small, trapezoid altar on three legs with a finely worked out bull protome on the obverse. The bull’s head with long, tapering and raised horns. The forelocks and the fur between the eyes are engraved in cold work. Strips with dot decoration on the edges of the head. The remaining three exteriors and the upper side are smooth. What is interesting is that the cult object stands on three legs and also has three holes for attachment. It is therefore also possible that the altar could have been fixed on a staff for certain cult activities.