Lot 20A
Roman, Imperial period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A lascivious leaded bronze finial depicting the Roman fertility god Priapus, emerging from a tapering architectural pillar with stylized drapery. The figure stands with his head veiled (capite velato) beneath a long pallium cloak, a garment worn during ritual acts or by those of modesty and piety. Beneath the folds of the mantle he wears a short tunic, his arms extending forward to offer a generous cluster of fruit, a classical symbol of agricultural abundance, fertility, and the blessings of nature. Though often represented in exaggerated or lewd fashion in Roman art, here Priapus appears solemn and votive, his presentation evoking the religious gravitas of household gods or rural shrines. The veil drawn over his head suggests a priestly function or act of ritual dedication. Size: 0.9" L x 1" W x 3" H (2.3 cm x 2.5 cm x 7.6 cm)
The presence of an insertion pin at the base indicates that this object once served as a finial or mount, likely affixed atop a staff, furniture element, or architectural fitting within a domestic, agricultural, or ceremonial context. Cast in high-lead bronze with rich surface patina bearing traces of red and green oxidation, the figure displays softened contours from age, yet retains its solemn form and clear iconography. The fruit offering, combined with the modest cloak, underscores Priapus not merely as a bawdy figure but as a protector of gardens, fields, and fertility, closely associated with Roman rustic piety. A rare and finely cast survival that blends the divine and the domestic, the sacred and the practical.
Cf. British Museum, 1814,0704.411 and Future Museum, DUMFM:1952.25.3.
Provenance: private Dayton, Maryland, USA collection; ex-private F. B. collection, Maryland, USA, acquired between 1990 to 2010
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#195841
- Condition: Loss to bottom of tang. Light surface wear as shown, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, nice remaining detail and rich patina to surface.
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