Roman Limestone Torso of a Goddess

Modelled with arms held behind the back, legs astride and left knee bent, head angled upwards over the right shoulder; the trousers and sleeves with incised crosshatched pattern, plain shoes; the hair drawn up in the 'Swabian knot' style above the right ear; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 93 grams total, 62 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.

Statuettes of foreign ‘barbarian’ prisoners of this type have been found along the Danube. Their spread coincides with the Marcomannic wars of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. The Swabian knot in this warrior’s hair has parallels with the warrior depicted on the contemporary Sarcophagus of Portonaccio, which represents a battle between Romans and Germanic Gauls.

Hollow-formed with short hair and a beret, wearing a paenula military cloak extending to the hips; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 110 grams total, 90 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.

Telesphorus, dressed in the Gallo-Roman manner with the long hooded military cloak (folded on his back), was the subject of many votive statuettes in Roman Gaul. Son of Aesculapius, god of medicine, he certainly had a connection with the world of healing and medical care, and was associated with his sister Hygeia. He belonged to the Celtic pantheon and was spread to the East by the Galatians of Asia Minor. His cult then spread to the West, particularly in the Hadrianic period, as attested by his images found on the Wall at Birdoswald.

Including ceramic rim fragments, terracotta figurine fragments, iron slag, decorated sherds and other items. 1.82 kg total, 2-10 cm



Found near Wetwang, East Yorkshire, UK. Acquired 2005. Ian Wilkinson collection, Nottinghamshire, UK.