Lot 21A
Roman, Imperial period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A finely cast leaded bronze statuette of Mercury, Roman god of travel, commerce, and communication - identified with the Greek Hermes - standing in graceful contrapposto. The god is rendered nude, his athletic physique on full display, with a short cloak or chlamys elegantly draped across his shoulders and wrapped around the neck. He wears a petasos, the wide-brimmed traveler's cap, and cradles his distinctive caduceus in his left hand, now partially missing. At his proper right foot stands a small rooster - sacred to Mercury as a symbol of vigilance and the dawn. The figure's dynamic pose, with bent left leg and head turned to his right, conveys a sense of movement and lively immediacy, despite its small scale. The modeling of the torso and musculature remains crisp, and the composition is both balanced and expressive. While the right arm is now lost, the remaining attributes and iconographic details unmistakably affirm the deity's identity. Size: 1.7" W x 3.4" H (4.3 cm x 8.6 cm)
Mercury was a favored god among Roman merchants and travelers, and small votive figurines such as this were likely offered at household shrines or carried as protective talismans. His caduceus - the winged staff entwined with twin serpents - was a symbol of peace and negotiation, while the rooster evoked wakefulness and watchfulness, fitting traits for the ever-moving messenger of the gods. This figure, richly patinated in mottled green and black, is an elegant embodiment of Roman religious devotion and classical form, merging idealized anatomy with divine symbolism.
Provenance: private Dayton, Maryland, USA collection; ex-private F. B. collection, Maryland, USA, acquired between 1990 to 2010
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#195931
- Condition: Missing proper right hand and purse. Abrasions and age-commensurate surface wear. Liberal remaining detail and rich patina.
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