Only a handful of life-size bronzes have survived from antiquity and most of these are in museum collections. With so few around, the appearance of this Roman bronze statue dating from the late Antonine or Severan period (late second century-early third century AD), in Christie’s sale of antiquities on 11 December has attracted considerable interest. Add to that the work’s impeccable provenance: it has been in various private collections since the 1960s, has been exhibited at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Indianapolis Museum of Arts and the Rutgers University Art Gallery, and has been widely published. The nearly six-foot statue is believed to have been part of a large-scale dedication to the Imperial family. According to New York journalist and dealer, Josh Baer, the consignor is Swiss-based US financier and art collector Asher Edelman. Although Christie’s has not published an estimate, Mr Baer suggests the work could sell for in excess of $3 million
Originally appeared in The Art Newspaper as 'The $3 million bronze'