A GREEK BRONZE MASK OF SILENUS, CIRCA EARLY 5TH CENTURY BC

Published:
1. Herbert Hoffmann (ed.), The Beauty of Ancient Art: the Norbert Schimmel Collection, Mainz, 1964, no. 16.
2. Oscar White Muscarella (ed.), Ancient Art: The Norbert Schimmel Collection, Mainz, 1974, no. 31.
3. Jürgen Settgast, Von Troja bis Amarna: The Norbert Schimmel Collection, Mainz, 1978, no. 35.

Exhibited: Fogg Art Museum, The Beauty of Ancient Art. The Norbert Schimmel Collection. Cambridge, 15 November 1964-14 February 1965.

Expert’s note: In Greek mythology, Silenus was the closest companion and tutor of Dionysus, celebrated for his wisdom when intoxicated and his role as the leader of the satyrs. Ancient writers often portrayed him as a paradoxical figure—comic in his drunkenness yet revered for the truths he uttered in moments of frenzy. In art, he served as a foil to Dionysus: aged, eccentric, and wildly expressive, embodying the unrestrained energy of the god’s retinue. Greek bronzes are admired for their realism, but this head stands out for its extraordinary psychological force, capturing the tension between revelry and vision that defined Silenus’ character.

Superbly cast, the companion of Dionysus is shown with pierced, trumpet-shaped flanges framing his bald pate, his bulging almond-shaped eyes set deep beneath a furrowed brow. A snub nose and rounded cheekbones accent the expressive face, while the neatly incised, radiating locks of his beard and moustache complete the vivid characterization.

Condition: Good condition with old wear, commensurate with age. Expected casting irregularities, scattered nicks and scratches, small losses, old fills, signs of weathering and erosion, and encrustations. The bronze with a naturally grown patina with malachite encrustations.
Provenance:
- The private collection of Norbert Schimmel, New York, USA, acquired prior to 1964 in New York.
- Sotheby's New York, 16 December 1992, lot 48.
- With Herbert A. Cahn, H.A.C. Kunst der Antike, Basel, Switzerland, acquired from the above.
- The private collection of Donald Vollen, Basel, Switzerland, acquired from the above in 1993.
- Christie’s London, 6 December 2017, lot 41 (sold for GBP 10,000 or approx. EUR 17,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).
- A private collection in the United States, acquired from the above.

The verso with three old labels, ‘Sotheby’s 48’, ‘Cahn A4/326’ and ‘Cat. #35’.

Norbert Schimmel (1905–1990) was a German-born American collector who assembled one of the most distinguished private collections of Mediterranean antiquities in the 20th century. Having emigrated to the United States in 1938, he prospered as an industrialist before turning to antiquities in 1949, building a collection that was exhibited worldwide, most notably in a landmark 1975 show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A major donor to the Met, including 25 Amarna relief blocks now displayed in a dedicated gallery, Schimmel also supported archaeological excavations and established the Schimmel Foundation in 1960 to further educational and charitable causes.

Herbert A. Cahn (1915–2002), a German-born classical archaeologist, numismatist, and dealer, was one of the most influential figures in the trade and study of ancient coins and antiquities. Having emigrated to Basel in 1933, he co-founded Münzen und Medaillen AG, which became a leading firm in the field, later continuing independently as H. A. C. Kunst der Antike. Renowned for his scholarship as well as his connoisseurship, Cahn lectured in Heidelberg and Freiburg, published widely on numismatics, and played a key role in the founding of the Antikenmuseum Basel. His dual career as academic and dealer positioned him as a central authority in the world of ancient art.

Weight: 433.4 g (excl. stand), 587 g (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 10.3 cm (excl. stand), 16.1 cm (incl. stand)

With an associated metal stand. (2)