Roman Bronze Silenus Mount

The left hand from a figurine modelled open beneath the thumb to accept a knife or tool; cut off for use as a weight. 4.8 grams, 17 mm



From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.

With narrow base and shallow shoulder, everted rim to the broad mouth; with inked museum number 'E1029' and accession ticket 'Roman Cremation (inside jar) 1st Cent. A.D. Viroconium Cornoviorum (Wroxeter) Lands of the Cornovii'; professionally repaired. 4.45 kg, 35.5cm



Found Wroxeter (Viroconium Cornoviorum), UK, in 1921. From a West Country, UK, collection, 1990s. Accompanied by a handwritten identification card with '1921' to verso.

The Cornovii inhabited an area of the (modern) English West Midlands, from Staffordshire to Chester, centered on modern Wroxeter (Viroconium Cornoviorum). This was among the largest administrative centres in Roman Britain, and drew its wealth in part from salt production and the mining of lead, copper and silver.

Modelled in the half-round and hollow to the reverse, the god with knees flexed, one of his sandaled feet resting on a ram's head; left arm raised to hold a sceptre (absent) and right hand holding a thunderbolt; pierced at the midriff for attachment; mounted on a custom-made stand. 1.1 kg, 21.5 cm 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.

The figurine of Jupiter seems to be a provincial work of Gallo-Roman origin. Contrary to the iconographic tradition of the king of the gods, he is usually depicted nude and with a cloak on his left arm, the statuette shows a Jupiter covered by a large cloak and vestis talaris, which also closely resembles the Gallo-Roman iconography of Jupiter-Sucellus.