Igor Mitoraj — Centurione II (1986)
The Centurione II bronze from 1986 is one of the most recognisable small-format works by Igor Mitoraj. A dark-patinated partial head of a Roman soldier, its face crossed by a horizontal band, signed MITORAJ at the base of the neck — I own one and am actively seeking additional examples, particularly those with original bases or accompanying documentation.
Identifying an Authentic Centurione II
The Centurione II (1986) can be identified by several consistent features. The cast is a partial head — forehead, brow, nose, cheekbones and chin visible, eyes concealed by the horizontal band. The base of the neck carries the incised or stamped signature MITORAJ. On the reverse or underside, the edition number is present (out of 1500). Some examples carry a small coin medallion detail at the side of the neck — a cameo-like classical profile embedded in the bronze.
Dimensions: approximately 18.5 × 14 × 6 cm for the bronze alone. Most examples were sold with a simple rectangular black marble or travertine base, though many now exist without the original base.
Centurione II — Key Facts
The edition of 1500 makes Centurione II one of the larger Mitoraj editions, though the majority of these have entered private collections and do not reappear at auction frequently. The dark patina is the standard finish; gilt variants are rarer and slightly more sought-after. The presence of the coin medallion detail does not necessarily indicate an earlier or rarer cast — it is a feature that appears inconsistently across the edition.
Current Market Value
Centurione II examples in excellent condition with original base sell at auction in the range of . Without the base, prices are typically lower. A complete example with certificate and base at the higher end of the range. I buy privately at prices competitive with auction estimates — you avoid the seller's commission (typically 15–25% at auction houses) by selling directly to me.
Collection Photographs — Centurione II
Centurione II in Context
Although Centurione II was created in 1986 — a year before Centurione I — the numbering reflects a compositional distinction rather than chronological sequence. Centurione II has a slightly more frontal face orientation and a shallower horizontal band across the eyes, exposing more of the upper brow. This gives it a marginally more confrontational quality than Centurione I, whose band is deeper and the face more three-quarter in profile. Both editions were produced at Pietrasanta foundries during the period of Mitoraj's greatest commercial success in the mid-1980s, following his breakthrough 1985 exhibition at Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome.
The Edition of 1500 — What It Means for Collectors
An edition of 1500 is large by contemporary sculpture standards — but Mitoraj's editions are not equivalent to limited-edition prints. Each cast is individually patinated, signed, and numbered by hand, and the quality of bronze casting at the Pietrasanta foundries is exceptionally high. The size of the edition means that Centurione II appears at auction with regularity, providing reliable comparable sales data and making condition-based pricing straightforward. For collectors, the large edition also means that damaged or restored examples are significantly discounted relative to pristine ones — unlike rarer editions where condition matters less. A Centurione II in poor condition may achieve at auction; in excellent condition with original base,
Selling Without Going to Auction
Auction houses charge sellers a commission of 15–25% of the hammer price. A significant commission is deducted and the process takes months. Selling directly to me eliminates the commission entirely and completes the transaction in days. I pay based on current auction market levels and make prompt payment — the process is simple, private, and without obligation until both parties agree.
Sell Your Centurione II
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Contact Me DirectlySee also: Mitoraj Centurione in Bamberg · Full Centurione series overview · All Mitoraj bronzes · Auction prices
Centurione — Mitoraj's Iconic Roman Warrior
Centurione is among Mitoraj's most recognisable subjects: a Roman warrior's head and torso, fractured and partially buried as if exhumed after millennia. The monumental version Centurione I stands permanently at Canary Wharf, London, and a second large cast was installed in Bamberg, Germany. Smaller bronze editions (typically 50–70 cm) have appeared regularly at European auction houses and command strong prices. The work distils Mitoraj's core artistic idea — that classical civilisation persists in ruin, simultaneously triumphant and wounded — and is consequently one of the most sought-after subjects among collectors who wish to represent his practice at its most emblematic.