CIRCA 1820

Details

A CHARLES X BRONZE GROUP OF ANDROCLES AND THE LION
CIRCA 1820
The group mounted on a rectangular Siena marble pedestal with foliate bronze plinth
14.5 cm. high; 21 cm. high overall

Special notice

Christie’s charges a premium to the buyer on the Hammer Price of each lot sold at the following rates: 29.75% of the Hammer Price of each lot up to and including €20,000, plus 23.8% of the Hammer Price between €20,001 and €800.000, plus 14.28% of any amount in excess of €800.000. Buyer’s premium is calculated on the basis of each lot individually.

Lot Essay

Androcles and the lion is one of the 300 odd fables that were collected by Easop, and date from the 6th century BC.
Androcles was an escaped slave who sought refuge in a cave. After a while a lion entered the cave. Instead of attacking Androcles the lion offered him his swolen paw into which a thorn was embedded. Androcles pulled out the thorn and became friends with the lion living together in the cave. After a while the slave returned to society and was quickly recognised. As punishment he was thrown to the lions, among which the lion from the cave. The present lot shows the two at this moment when the lion recognises Androcles. Both were after set free for this astonishing show of loyalty.

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