An Imposing and Powerful Celtic Head

With a moustache and ‘goaty’ type of beard beneath a slightly protruding lower lip, with a strong nose and pierced ‘bulbous’ eyes, the hair parted in the centre
Limestone
France
1st to 2nd Century AD

Size: 25cm high, 16.5cm wide, 17cm deep - 9¾ ins high, 6½ ins wide, 6¾ ins deep

Provenance:
Ex Private French collection
Ex Private UK collection


The Celts held the head in high regard as a symbol of divinity and the otherworld’s influence. They regarded it as the most crucial component of the human body, the very seat of the soul. Although this reverence had roots in Europe and Britain predating the Celts, they developed it into an intricate cult, making it a distinctive aspect of their religious expression.
Skulls discovered in Celtic iron age hill-forts indicate that human heads were hunted and served as trophies, demonstrating the owner’s military prowess. These trophies also served as protective measures, warding off malevolent spirits and ensuring positive outcomes and good fortune. Consequently, the symbol of the severed human head became as representative of Celtic religion as the cross is in Christian contexts.
The current head, with its striking and robust features, could signify a chiefly figure, warrior, or revered ancestor.