Roman Bronze Statuette Group

Carved with comma-leaf detailing to the hair, a low brow over almond-shaped eyes, broad triangular nose and thick moustache obscuring the mouth; mounted on a custom-made stand. 7.3 kg total, 28.5 cm high including stand



Found Anglesey, Wales, 1978. 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. Accompanied by a newspaper article on the find.

The style of execution is rather more refined than for the majority of stone heads, and lacks the characteristic slit mouth. Same elements of the design are seen on the figure from Otley (Jackson, no.25) and especially that from Bradford-Heaton (no.16) which shares the prominent moustache.

Comprising a hollow-formed hoop with rounded shoulders, inset garnet intaglio with clasped hands and 'AIAX' inscription. 2.79 grams, 21.00 mm overall, 14.90 mm internal diameter (approximate size British E, USA 2 1/4, Europe 2.41, Japan 2)



Acquired in Europe in 1992. with Million Cornette de Saint Cyr, Hotel Regina, 12 December 2009. European private collection.

The Romanised name 'Aiax' is given to the hero Αἴας of the Trojan war, who carried off the body of Achilles and fought Hector. The subject of two clasped hands (dextrarum junctio) symbolising the fides (loyalty, trust), was very popular on Roman rings and gems. It was mainly used on marriage rings, sometimes with the equivalent Greek inscription 'OMONOIA'. Sometimes it was used in terms of military loyalty between commander and army. In this case it is most probable the name of the groom (AIAX).

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.