Roman Bronze Phallic Mount

With globular body, short everted rim and cylindrical neck, concave base. 73 grams, 10 cm



Ex London, UK, collection, 1980-1990s.

The bottle should be associated with Isings form 6 or Tommaso type 7. Small bottles of this typology are among the earliest known blown glass. The everted rim seems to distinguish examples made in Italy and the western Mediterranean provinces from those of the Eastern Mediterranean, on which the rim is usually folded in the form of a flange.

Modelled nude with legs thrust forward, left arm forward from the body, right arm held to the rear with hand forming a fist, diadem to the brow; mounted on a custom-made stand. 71 grams total, 78 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.

Unlike the British Museum statuette, our figure is represented in the heroic nudity of the warrior on horseback, even if the position is identical. It is very likely that the statuette represents one of the Dioscuri, Castor and Pollux, and perhaps it was part of a pair of twins on horseback.

With tapering shoulders, inset ellipsoid carnelian intaglio of Mars advancing wearing a Corinthian helmet, carrying a spear and dolabra over one shoulder. 8.06 grams, 21.79 mm overall, 13.64x16.29 mm internal diameter (approximate size British I 1/2, USA 4 1/2, Europe 8.07, Japan 7)



European art market.