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LOT 0166
Roman Bronze Statuette of Mercury
1ST-2ND CENTURY A.D.
6 1/4 in. (957 grams, 16 cm high).
Standing erect on a tiered socle base in contrapposto pose; pointillé-textured mantle draped to the left shoulder, left arm bent, hand holding a wand; right arm loose at the side, hand holding a patera; finely modelled face with short wavy hair; shallow dimple or socket to the crown; standing on a possibly later tiered disc base with square foot.
ProvenanceAcquired on the German art market, 1990s.
Ex Cambridgeshire collection, UK.
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.12013-213587.
Exhibited at Harwich Museum, Harwich, Essex, UK, 3rd February-9th March 2024; accompanied by a copy of a photograph of the artefact on display.
LiteratureCf. Reinach, S., Repertoire de la statuarie Grecque et Romaine, Paris, 1930, p.149, no.8, for the type; Rolland, H., Bronzes Antiques de Haute Provence, Paris, 1965, items 27ff., for comparable examples; Boucher, S., Recherches sur les Bronzes Figurés de Gaule Pré-Romaine et Romaine, Rome, 1976, fig.192.
FootnotesMercury was the god of trade and industry, whose principle shrine in the city of Rome was at the Circus Maximus. The draped mantle is typical of statuary of Mercury from the 1st-2nd century A.D. (Boucher, pl.40, 43) and the 'baton' may in fact be the stem of a caduceus (Boucher, pl.46 (211)).
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0166
Roman Bronze Statuette of Mercury
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000€5,800 - 8,120 (for guidance only)$6,750 - 9,450 (for guidance only)
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Romano-British 'Published' Bronze Gaming Counter
Circa 1st century A.D. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £293
Discoid in form with twelve impressed dots, two parallel lines and one perpendicular. 4.5 grams, 18 mm
Found Cirencester, UK, prior to 1999. Acquired 4 February 1999. From the important private collection of dice and gaming pieces of Colin Narbeth, London, UK, collection no.59. Accompanied by a copy of the relevant Celtic & Roman Artefacts book pages where this object is published. -
Roman Bronze Laying Panther Statuette
1st-3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
Modelled in the round laying flat on its side with forelegs extended; low-relief collar to the neck. 25 grams, 38 mm
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 presence of the collar suggests that the model represents a panther used in the gladiatorial animal-fighting games. -
Roman Pale Blue Glass Unguentarium
1st-2nd century A.D.Estimate: £100 - 140 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £50
With piriform lower body, extended cylindrical neck and flange rim; iridescent surfaces. 25.4 grams, 12 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
