Roman Bronze Maenad Protome

Object Description

A Roman bronze protome featuring a protruding female bust, most likely a Maenad, with a hollow, unworked back. The figure leans out and looks to her left: her face is round, smooth and softly smiling. She wears a tunic with fine drapery, pinned at each shoulder with a round brooch. The figure’s torso is encircled by a foliage wreath, now fragmented, mirroring the wreath encircling her head. This is decorated with clusters of three berries. The reverse of the protome shows a sculpted head, with the underneath of her torso unworked .

Date: Circa 1st – 3rd century AD
Provenance: Ex private French collection, Paris, acquired 1970s.

Object Condition

Fine condition with surface patination, missing the bottom half of the circular wreath and the lower fragments of her torso. There is a hole in the back of her head.

Object Details