FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board
Antiquities Discussion Forums => Other Antiquities => Topic started by: OldMoney on June 19, 2019, 04:00:50 pm
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Dear Forum Friends,
I need your help with a Roman (?) Ceramic Dove (Pidgeon?), or similar bird.
Size: approx. 115mm (L) x 45mm (W). Fits nicely into one's hand.
This was something I picked up well over thirty years ago, and because it
was broken it was a relatively inexpensive thing to have obtained for a (then)
beginner/novice into the field of ancient ceramic artefacts.
The problem with the deal was that it came with almost no other information,
except the general "Roman" description applied to it by the dealer.
Unfortunately I have no further idea about whether that was correct or not,
and so thought I would enquire with this highly informed group as to whether
anyone had come across a similar item, and what additional details may be
forthcoming about it - if any. Is it Roman? Is it Greek? Is it a Dove? Date?
As may be seen, it is almost complete, if broken, and everything fits together
nicely, including a very small piece at the beak (not shown). In the many years
since I bought it I have not come across anything like it. Any thoughts?
I appreciate anything you may be able to offer toward identifying this item.
- Walter
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For what it may be worth....here is the closest thing I could find online....
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/en-gb/item/36943225_ancient-pair-of-greek-terracotta-pigeons
And one other site I found showed terracotta birds (doves, mostly), and described them as votive offerings.
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Thanks Craig,
That's the sort of thing I have found as well, which is only close in that it
also depicts a dove/pidgeon. Those are quite upright, whereas this piece
is relatively "flat" in comparison. They also appear to be quite solid, or of
a thicker fabric at least, whereas this one is apparently from a two-part
mold and then joined more-or-less along where the breaks appear now.
Definitely a difficult one to nail down. I have even searched some of the
institutional (museums, etc.) websites as well, as best possible anyway.
The search continues.
All the best,
- Walter