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ID #SA1238722
FOR SALE
£10,800
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Unusual Pair of Late 19th Century Portrait Busts of Caesars Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla
For sale by Loveday Antiques
for sale €12,636     $13,716
£10,800
Loveday Antiques

Loveday Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Mar 2012
Browse dealers 75 items
  • About Us
    Specialist furniture dealers 18th-20th century
  • Trade Associations
    Loveday Antiques is a registered member of LAPADA  BADA  CINOA
Id #SA1238722
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Unusual Pair of Late 19th Century Portrait Busts of Caesars Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla

1900 - 1920
For Sale by Loveday Antiques
Description

Wonderful pair of 19th Century Roman Emperor Portrait Busts Representing Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla in Terracotta with Bronze Heads.

Italy Naples circa 1900

Life-size busts, the heads cast in bronze with the body of terracotta, modelled with vest without sleeves and toga thrown over one shoulder.

Wonderful verdigris patination to the bronze and weathered to the terracotta.

Very unusual to have a bronze head coupled with a terracotta body these highly imposing decorative busts are of excellent quality. Depicting the Roman Caesars Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla which are the most iconic Roman Emperors for being the kindest and the meanest.

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 and a Stoic philosopher. He was the last of the rulers known as the Five Good Emperors, and the last emperor of the Pax Romana, an age of relative peace and stability for the Roman Empire lasting from 27 BC to 180 AD.

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus "Caracalla" was Roman emperor from 198 to 217. He was a member of the Severan dynasty, the elder son of Emperor Septimius Severus and Empress Julia Domna.

Proclaimed co-ruler by his father in 198, he continued to reign with his brother Geta, co-emperor from 209, after their father's death in 211. His brother was murdered by the Praetorian Guard later that year, supposedly under orders from Caracalla himself, who then reigned afterwards as sole ruler of the Roman Empire. Caracalla found administration to be mundane, leaving those responsibilities to his mother. Caracalla's reign featured domestic instability and external invasions by the Germanic peoples. Known to be a blood thirsty Emperor Caracalla was on campaign when he stopped to urinate and was stabbed to death by one of his own soldiers Justin Martialis.

Width: 24 inches - 61cm

Height: 24 inches - 61cm

Depth: 15 inches - 38cm

Physical Dimensions
Height
61cm (24.02")
Width
61cm (24.02")
Depth
38cm (14.96")
Declaration

Loveday Antiques has dated these Antique Roman Emperor Busts to the 1900s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1238722
Dealers Internal Reference
2879
Dealers Notes

Loveday Antiques is a family run business originally established since 1969 in London.

Now in its second generation, Loveday Antiques specialises in an eclectic mix of 18th to 20th Century European furniture and works of art, with a strong emphasis on quality, uniqueness and colour.

As proud members of BADA & LAPADA, the largest association for professional art and antique dealers in the United Kingdom and members of CINOA, the worldwide association for antique dealers you can buy from us with 100% confidence and reassurance as we are committed to upholding and abiding by the strict standards of each association.

Our clients can rest assured that each item is as described and photographed.

All Items are sold with 100% satisfaction 14 day money back guarantee, return delivery will be charged for.

We deliver within the UK for usually between £60-£80 and ship worldwide with professional bespoke crating via air to almost all locations. Please contact us at Loveday Antiques with your full postal address for a very competitive quote.

Delivery within the mainland UK will usually be with 7 to 14 days but please allow up to 28 days. We also ship worldwide with a professional bespoke crating service and large International couriers via air and sea to almost all locations. Please contact us at Loveday Antiques with your full postal address for a very competitive quote.

GOODS

All items listed are in excellent condition having been restored using traditional methods by experienced cabinet makers and polishers keeping the original colour and patina wherever possible.

Please bear in mind you may find the usual markings with antique furniture that are commensurate with age which all add to beauty and uniqueness of the item.

VIEWINGS

We have a reputation for being long established antique dealers in London having had showrooms concurrently running in Islington, Chelsea and Ascot. We have relocated our new showroom, due to London overheads, easily reached between A1 or A10 to just outside of Hertford, Hertfordshire.

We will happily arrange for clients to be collected travelling via train. Local stations being Hertford North, Stevenage and Ware, all being a 10 minute drive from us.

Please contact us for location and appointments.

Telephone: 01438 869 819

Payments accepted are Bank Transfer, Cheque, Major Credit Cards or Cash.

Opening Times

Monday to Saturday 9.00am - 5.30pm Please email or call beforehand to make an appointment.

If outside of these times again please call to make an appointment

We have more than 40 years experience in supplying Antique furniture to the trade, public and interior designers from all parts of the world so please buy with confidence as we have passed the test of time.

Description
Wonderful pair of 19th Century Roman Emperor Portrait Busts Representing Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla in Terracotta with Bronze Heads.

Italy Naples circa 1900

“
Life-size busts, the heads cast in bronze with the body of terracotta, modelled with vest without sleeves and toga thrown over one shoulder.
Loveday Antiques
fig 1. A pair of late 19th-century sculpted portrait busts depicting Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla with patinated green heads and brown draped shoulders.
fig 1. Unusual Pair of Late 19th Century Portrait Busts of Caesars Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla

Wonderful verdigris patination to the bronze and weathered to the terracotta.

Very unusual to have a bronze head coupled with a terracotta body these highly imposing decorative busts are of excellent quality. Depicting the Roman Caesars Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla which are the most iconic Roman Emperors for being the kindest and the meanest.

fig 2. A pair of late 19th-century sculpted portrait busts depicting Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla with patinated green heads and brown draped shoulders.
fig 2. Unusual Pair of Late 19th Century Portrait Busts of Caesars Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 and a Stoic philosopher. He was the last of the rulers known as the Five Good Emperors, and the last emperor of the Pax Romana, an age of relative peace and stability for the Roman Empire lasting from 27 BC to 180 AD.

fig 3. A pair of late 19th-century sculpted portrait busts depicting Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla with patinated green heads and brown draped shoulders.
fig 3. Unusual Pair of Late 19th Century Portrait Busts of Caesars Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus "Caracalla" was Roman emperor from 198 to 217. He was a member of the Severan dynasty, the elder son of Emperor Septimius Severus and Empress Julia Domna.

Proclaimed co-ruler by his father in 198, he continued to reign with his brother Geta, co-emperor from 209, after their father's death in 211. His brother was murdered by the Praetorian Guard later that year, supposedly under orders from Caracalla himself, who then reigned afterwards as sole ruler of the Roman Empire. Caracalla found administration to be mundane, leaving those responsibilities to his mother. Caracalla's reign featured domestic instability and external invasions by the Germanic peoples. Known to be a blood thirsty Emperor Caracalla was on campaign when he stopped to urinate and was stabbed to death by one of his own soldiers Justin Martialis.

Width: 24 inches - 61cm

Height: 24 inches - 61cm

Depth: 15 inches - 38cm

Height
61cm (24.02")
Width
61cm (24.02")
Depth
38cm (14.96")
Date of Manufacture

Loveday Antiques has dated these Antique Roman Emperor Busts to the 1900s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1238722
Dealers Internal Ref
2879
Loveday Antiques
Loveday Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Mar 2012

Specialist furniture dealers 18th-20th century

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Loveday Antiques Profile Page

Trade Associations

Loveday Antiques is a registered member of LAPADA  BADA  CINOA

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A pair of late 19th-century sculpted portrait busts depicting Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla with patinated green heads and brown draped shoulders.
1 / 13
Archive I A pair of late 19th-century sculpted portrait busts depicting Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla with patinated green heads and brown draped shoulders.

Unusual Pair of Late 19th Century Portrait Busts of Caesars Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla

Archive II A pair of late 19th-century sculpted portrait busts depicting Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla with patinated green heads and brown draped shoulders. View II
Archive III A pair of late 19th-century sculpted portrait busts depicting Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla with patinated green heads and brown draped shoulders. View III
Archive IV A pair of late 19th-century sculpted portrait busts depicting Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla with patinated green heads and brown draped shoulders. View IV
Archive V A pair of late 19th-century sculpted portrait busts depicting Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla with patinated green heads and brown draped shoulders. View V
Archive VI A pair of late 19th-century sculpted portrait busts depicting Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla with patinated green heads and brown draped shoulders. View VI
Archive VII A pair of late 19th-century sculpted portrait busts depicting Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla with patinated green heads and brown draped shoulders. View VII
Archive VIII A pair of late 19th-century sculpted portrait busts depicting Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla with patinated green heads and brown draped shoulders. View VIII
Archive IX A pair of late 19th-century sculpted portrait busts depicting Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla with patinated green heads and brown draped shoulders. View IX
Archive X A pair of late 19th-century sculpted portrait busts depicting Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla with patinated green heads and brown draped shoulders. View X
Archive XI A pair of late 19th-century sculpted portrait busts depicting Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla with patinated green heads and brown draped shoulders. View XI
Archive XII A pair of late 19th-century sculpted portrait busts depicting Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla with patinated green heads and brown draped shoulders. View XII
Archive XIII A pair of late 19th-century sculpted portrait busts depicting Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla with patinated green heads and brown draped shoulders. View XIII
Enlarged Archival View
Telephone 01438 869819
Location
Benington
Hertfordshire
United Kingdom
Verified Since Mar 2012
Items For Sale 75
Items Sold 948
Loveday Antiques
Loveday Antiques
Verified Since Mar 2012
View Dealer Info
Location: Benington, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
Verified
Mar 2012
For Sale
75
Sold
948
A pair of late 19th-century sculpted portrait busts depicting Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla with patinated green heads and brown draped shoulders.
Unusual Pair of Late 19th Century Portrait Busts of Caesars Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla
Ref: SA1238722
A pair of late 19th-century sculpted portrait busts depicting Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla with patinated green heads and brown draped shoulders.
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Archival Detail
Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.
Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.
Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.
Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectSculptures
  • Period1900 - 1920
  • StyleNeoclassical
  • MaterialBronze, Terracotta
  • ColourBrown, Green
  • MotifsClassical drapery, Verdigris finish, Detailed hair and beard, Toga details
  • SizeH 61 cm (24 in) x W 61 cm (24 in) x D 38 cm (15 in)

These Neoclassical portrait busts depict the Roman emperors Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla, originating from Naples around 1900. The pair is composed of cast bronze heads joined to terracotta bodies, displaying a distinct verdigris patination on the metal portions and weathered brown tones across the draped shoulders and sleeveless vests. Detailed curls adorn the hair and beards of both figures, while classical drapery falls across their chests and over one shoulder, complemented by beaded trim along the vest openings. Each sculpture measures 61 cm high, 61 cm wide, and 38 cm deep. Suitable for a gentleman's library, these decorative pieces fit well upon a mantelpiece or a sturdy console table. They bring historical presence to a study, drawing room, or hallway surface, anchoring the interior design with traditional Neoclassical motifs.

Popularised during the 18th and 19th centuries, Grand Tour portrait busts are classical sculptures depicting historical figures, philosophers, and Roman emperors, created as souvenirs for European travellers collecting classical antiquities.

These decorative sculptures were commonly cast or carved using materials such as bronze, terracotta, marble, alabaster, or plaster finished with patinas to simulate aged metal or earthenware.

Authentic period pieces display age-appropriate wear, subtle surface oxidisation, hand-finished details, and weight characteristics appropriate for 19th-century casting and moulding techniques.

Portrait busts are frequently placed on console tables, mantelpieces, or inside bookcases to introduce historical texture, balance, and classical proportions to contemporary or traditional spaces.

Dust detailed areas regularly using a soft dry brush, avoid liquid cleaners that might alter original patination, and display items away from high humidity or direct moisture.
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