EARLY 1ST MILLENNIUM A.D.

Details

TWO CELTIC SANDSTONE 'ALTARS'
EARLY 1ST MILLENNIUM A.D.
Both with heavily incised facial lines and features, with long grimacing mouths and exposed teeth, the larger carved with a splayed frog on the reverse, the smaller with hunched quadruped, the tops of both heads hollowed out as an altar
22 in. (56 cm.) and 19 in. (48.5 cm.) high respectively (2)

Provenance

From Tarporley, near Chester: previously Christie's London, 16 December 1982, lot 20.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

These belong to a class of ritual objects which defined the boundaries of the ancient tribal communities, creating a visible psychic presence to ward off intruders. Tarporley stands on the tribal boundary between the Brigantes (north) and the Cornavii (south).
Cf. A. Ross, The Cult of the Head, Pagan Celtic Britian, London, 1967, p. 61, for scarification or tribal markings which appear on a similar head from Castlesteads, Cumberland.

It has been suggested that one of the heads was said to have been used by the 'Master of the Marshes' and therefore has a frog carved on its back. The other is said to have been used by the 'Master of the Fields', with a goat or sheep carved on its back.

More from Antiquities, Including an English Private Collection of

View All