Roman Bronze Mercury Votive Foot

Hollow-formed right hand from a statuette, with fingers splayed and flat palm, good anatomical detailing. 362 grams, 12.1 cm



Private collection 1990s. Ex London, UK, gallery.

The votive character of the hand could link it to the God Sabazios, often associated with a number of archaeological finds depicting a bronze, right hand in the benedictio latina gesture. The hand appears to have had ritual significance and may have been affixed to a sceptre (as the one carried by Sabazios on a slab, one from Philippopolis, nowadays Plovdiv in Bulgaria). The association with Sabazios is sometimes suggested in similar hands, by the presence of a snake embossed around the circumference of the hand, because the iconic image of the god or hero on horseback battling the chthonic serpent, appears on Celtic-Roman votive columns, and with the coming of Christianity it was easily adapted to the representations of Saint George fighting the Dragon.

Modelled in the round, standing on an irregular base, with shaggy coat and coiled horns; mounted on a custom-made stand. 99 grams, 50 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.

With globular body, columnar neck and ground rim; much iridescence remaining to surface. 20.7 grams, 89 mm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.