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THE PROPERTY OF THE LATE DR. ARNOLD RUESCH (1882-1929) Dr. Arnold Ruesch was a Swiss industrialist, philosopher, and avid collector of antiquities. In 1920 he commissioned the architect, Johann Albert Freytag, to build a Pompeian style home on the Zürichberg to house his extensive collection. Following Ruesch's untimely death in 1929, the majority of his ancient artwork was auctioned in 1936, though the mosaics and wall painting fragments remained in his villa until their removal in 1968. 'The villa will still retain its character through the Roman mosaics, which are inserted into the floor, as well as the Pompeian wall paintings built into the walls etc., and will thus - to an extent - preserve the memory of the noble-minded collector, while the movable pieces will be scattered around the world.' Prof. Dr. Otto Waser, Sammlung A. Ruesch, Zürich, Griechische, Etruskische und Römische Altertümer, Galerie Fischer, Luzern, 1936, p. 5.

A ROMAN MARBLE RELIEF

CIRCA 1ST-2ND CENTURY A.D.

Details

A ROMAN MARBLE RELIEF
CIRCA 1ST-2ND CENTURY A.D.
Sculpted in high relief, depicting a braying mule facing left, standing between two milestone columns, one inscribed with a Roman numeral V, the other with VI, the mule with pointed ears and flared nostrils, a pheasant, trussed goat and filled wineskin upon a fringed saddle cloth strung on his back
20½ x 16 1/8 in. (41 x 52 cm.)

Provenance

Dr. Arnold Ruesch (1882-1929) collection, Zurich, Switzerland; thence by descent to the current owner.

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 20% on the buyer's premium.

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Lot Essay

PUBLISHED:
Sammlung A. Ruesch, Zürich, Griechische, Etruskische und Römische Altertümer, Galerie Fischer, Luzern, 1936, p. 21, no. 191.

It was suggested in the above publication that this relief was a shop sign, with the mule perhaps representing the mode of transport used by the shopkeeper to deliver his goods. In the Roman world the mule rather than the donkey was the most common pack-animal. Two types of saddle were used, a wood framed saddle or a more flexible pannier type (clitellae). In the above relief the mule seems to be wearing the former saddle type where the load was fastened on with straps. A horse cloth (stratum) was spread on the animal's back beneath the saddle and can be seen here with a long fringed edge. For the use of mules and donkeys in the ancient world, cf. J. M. C. Toynbee, Animals in Roman Life and Art, London, 1973, pp. 185-197.

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