Very Rare Bronze Ram From The Gallo-roman Period - Old Collection - Gallic Antiquity

Very rare bronze ram from the Gallo-Roman period. The animal is depicted upright, with a proud posture and a prominent front. The legs are welded to the base. The muzzle is barely drawn, the ears erect and pointing backwards and the horns curving backwards. The tail pointing downwards (unlike caprines whose tail points upwards). The ram is an animal with a strong chthonic dimension. It is found in Celtic art in the form of a ram-headed serpent. It is therefore not surprising that after the conquest it was often associated with Mercury, the major divinity of the Gauls linked to material goods, and in this case frequently accompanied by other animals (rooster and turtle in particular). Companion of Mercury, the animal must be imagined as an element of private cult statuary, like a lararium. This was indeed the whole point of these statuettes which, when associated with each other, gave the meaning and particular identity of the daily rites of the household. 3.7cm high 3.5cm wide 6cm high with the base Our copy comes from France and was acquired in 1970 by the former owner. Presented on a black base with its original label. Provenance: same Tarn collection (south of France) as the other archaeological pieces that we have presented for sale in recent days.