Roman Bronze Hand Holding a Parazonium

2ND-3RD CENTURY A.D.

12 7/8 in. (1.97 kg total, 32.6 cm high including stand).

Fragment from a hollow-formed monument comprising a left hand holding the base of a cross fleury with hexagonal cross-section; mounted on a custom-made display stand.

Provenance

Ex Arthur Richter (1925-2018), California, USA.
Private collection, England.

Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13084-249671.

Literature

Cf. Olcina Doménech M. H., El báculo y la espada: sobre un fragmento de escultura monumental romana de bronce de "Lucentum", Museo Arqueológico de Alicante - MARQ, Alicante, 2007, figs.3.1,3.5,3.17.3.43, 3.46.348 for similar.

Footnotes

Here, the hand of what was once a colossal statue of a general or emperor brandishes an object that may be a cross, or the hilt of a commander's sword (parazonium). These monumental bronzes belong to the late period of the Empire, when the image of the victorious emperor or general was intended as propaganda demonstrating military strength, despite the Empire being surrounded by external enemies and devastated by internal strife.

CONDITION

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LOT 0155