Roman Bronze Bust Mount of Mercury

Bezel formed as one circular and two piriform gold cells with large granules between and granulation to the rim of each cell; inset garnet cabochons, with later rectangular-section hoop. 2.39 grams, 21.13 mm overall, 16.53 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L 1/2, USA 6, Europe 11.87, Japan 11)



From a late Japanese specialist collector, 1970-2000s.

Composed of restrung graduated opaque black glass beads of oblate barrel and irregular types. 21.7 grams, 49 cm long



UK gallery, early 2000s.

Naturalistically modelled in the round, large and deep eyes with a thoughtful expression under the heavy eyelids; lips lightly profiled and parted; the back and lower part roughly treated indicating that it was prepared to be installed in a hollow or part of a relief; mounted on a custom-made display base. 4.59 kg total, 25 cm high including stand



Ex private Swiss collection, prior to the late 1980s. Acquired at Camels-Cohen Auction 228, Paris, France, 16 & 17 September 2003, lot 324. Private collection, Europe. Accompanied by an academic report by Professor Neritan Ceka. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11806-206511.

The realistic style of treatment of the portrait and the preservation of classical features, in the examples of Cicero, Pompeius, or Agrippa, lead us to the last period of Roman republican portraiture, around the middle of the 1st century B.C. On the other hand, the frontal symmetry of the face, the serious expression of the eyes and the hair behind the neck, refer to the Greek sculpture of the Rigorous Style, from which the presentation of the portrait may have been inspired. These features could suggest also dating of the portrait to the last decades of the rule of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty in Rome, when there is a return to the realistic tradition of the portrait, as well as to the hairstyle with the parallel curls of the hair on the forehead in the figures, as in the portrait of Emperor Caligula (37-41 A.D.).