Life-Size Roman Marble Finger

Piriform mount with stylised facial features, broad band of hair with incised zigzag and roundels, hollow to the reverse. 71.6 grams, 66 mm



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman.

Modelled with arms held behind the back, legs astride and left knee bent, head angled upwards over the right shoulder; the trousers and sleeves with incised crosshatched pattern, plain shoes; the hair drawn up in the 'Swabian knot' style above the right ear; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 93 grams total, 62 mm including stand



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.

Statuettes of foreign ‘barbarian’ prisoners of this type have been found along the Danube. Their spread coincides with the Marcomannic wars of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. The Swabian knot in this warrior’s hair has parallels with the warrior depicted on the contemporary Sarcophagus of Portonaccio, which represents a battle between Romans and Germanic Gauls.

The helmetted deity walking left on a ground line, carrying a trophy on his shoulder and holding a spear in his hand; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. 0.90 grams, 16 mm



Ex property of a late Japanese collector, 1970-2000s. Accompanied by an old collection ticket.

The moniker 'Mars Gradivus' is often translated as 'Marching Mars' from the latin 'gradus' meaning step or march.