Roman Provincial Bronze Statuette of Mercury

Object Description

A fine Ancient Roman provincial bronze statuette of Mercury. The messenger god is depicted nude, bar the chlamys draped over his left shoulder and arm. He is shown standing in a contrapposto stance, leaning on his right leg with his left leg slightly bent. His left arm extends outwards diagonally while his right arm is bent at the elbow at his side. He has been rendered stylistically, with his round eyes, eyebrows, thick nose, and large lips, still clearly visible. Two circular recesses at the centre of his eyes represent his pupils. Though his hands are now missing, his right hand may once have held a sacculus, a small purse, one of the god’s iconographic attributes, as typical with this pose.

This statuette is mounted on a custom-made stand. The measurements listed below include the stand. Without the stand, the figure measures 3.9cm in length, 1.5cm in width, and 8cm in height.

Date: Circa 2nd-3rd Century AD

Object History

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.

Object Condition

Fine condition. A beautiful green patina and some encrustations to the surface. Chips and scratches to the statuette, as consistent with its age, with some larger chips to the right arm. Both hands are now missing.

Object Details