So I'll try out a couple artifact posts. This one I got from an auction that was selling many coins and a couple artifacts that were found together in the Balkins. This item was listed as: "Roman Empire, 1st - 3rd c. AD. Bronze zoomorphic handle fragment of a horse. 60mm x 31mm x 21mm. Dark brown patina. Found in the former Yugoslavia." Paid $80. (example) I guess you all may know that I'd love to see this as bronze as it was when it was made. I also guess you all are going to tell me where to put the handle if I do that. However, if anyone wants to point me to a place to learn how to restore ancient bronze I would appreciate it. Not saying I'd do it on this, but I really want to learn it. I love what this guy did: https://www.tf.uni-kiel.de/matwis/amat/iss/kap_b/advanced/tb_1_1b.html However I cannot get in touch with him as he's retired: https://www.tf.uni-kiel.de/~hf/ That aside, what are your thoughts as to what this is? It really seems to be a Hippocamp. Looking at the facing left photo it looks like some kind of item is holstered in his side with three circles/dots on it. I've read in some research that on ancient Roman rings (I'll be posting one that I got) the number of circles represent which legion the owner was in. So if that's true, maybe this was in the 3rd Legion? Lots of leaps there. Any ideas what this would have been attached to? I want to believe it was some kind of weapon like a small 4 inch dagger. But I guess likely it was some kind of foot for pot or something.
I would have paid $80 in a heart beat-- and I don't collect them, nor have any If you trust the seller
Thanks! I'm starting to get really excited about artifacts. I also have a Roman clay oil lamp that I plan to actually use. I bought what is likely some kind of fake cameo of a roman soldier in emerald. Yah this seller I really trust. He comes up with some really cool stuff sometimes and they guarantee the items so if I find it's fake they'll take it back and refund.
I've been away for awhile. Just adding some more photos here in case anyone has any thoughts/ideas about this object:
Thanks for your reply! I don't take things personally, I no need to bite anything. I'm new to this. Can you tell me what you mean by "flash in place in the casting". Can you point out this flash (I don't really know what is meant by flash in this context)?
I'm not an expert , for me it looks like that someone tried to copy(metal mold) a horse fibula. I know this eBay seller for long time.
Interesting! Thank you. I actually don't use eBay. It was part of a larger modern coin auction based in Onterio Canada. They had a few Roman items and coins as part of it.
The ebay seller I know is describing his artifacts exactly in the same way(exemple below) as your object was identified. Dificult to say that your seller was really him or someone that has copied his description format .
My suggestion is that you join the io email group devoted to antiquities collecting (formerly a yahoo group), and post a few of your photos there. You will receive a well-informed opinion on authenticity. The link is https://groups.io/g/AncientArtifacts.
Thank you Donna. I actually found that group a week or two and posted this item there. But I didn't get any response. Based on recent traffic, it seems like maybe it is less active than it used to be. Hopefully someone sees it. Really appreciate your response
Sorry to hear that. I've gotten responses the several times I've posted photos. Is there any way you can bump or repeat your request?
Okay. I had to re-think my reply to you yesterday because I felt it was a bit too terse. Understand, this reply is based on the other threads you have posted in addition to this thread. I am a retired. I spent almost ten years as a metals conservator for a large private museum. First, I do not believe your piece is authentic. Note the flashing from the mold process under the horse’s jaw. A true Roman craftsman would have removed this. Tradesmen took pride in their pieces, even the lowliest and most common objects. You need to research and learn about antiquities before proceeding. I have seen other pieces you have referenced here (thinking of the ear ring) that were also highly suspect (in that case, I believe the item was authentic but misattributed temporally and culturally). The “restorations” you reference above are terrible. That individual has removed all of the original patina from those pieces. They are stripped and were improperly cleaned. This is nothing you or anyone should idealize or attempt to emulate.
That is much appreciated. Especially from an expert such as yourself. I had noticed that. However to my inexperienced eye, I had assumed it was part of the design. Based on some images of hippocamp I've seen I thought it was some kind of fin or webbing on the seahorse. But when I look closely it looks like there is some kind of seam between that fin and the head. I'm guessing that is what would make it more likely to be flashing. I am trying my best to learn in my spare time. But I think the iceberg goes incredibly deep when the topic is "European antiquities". I am starting to get an eye for what feels like a fake patina. I was looking at a spearhead the other day that was supposed to be Greek from 1000-1200 BC. It was bent and damaged as if it was used in a battle. I thought this was really cool. But as I looked at it, the patina was basically gone in the damaged parts. Which meant to me that it was either used in battle after it was already patinaed up (seems unlikely), or just fake. I think on this part we'll have to agree to disagree. I think those are beautiful. More than once Homer mentions the "gleaming bronze" weapons, etc. While clearly the monetary and archeological value come from the intact patina etc. However the beauty doesn't have to since it is in the eye of the beholder. If the owner doesn't care about holding value, and any potential historical knowledge has already been learned, all we're left with is beauty and philosophy. I would love to have a conversation about this topic with you and am very open to my mind being changed. Especially by one as experienced as yourself.
