Bust of Athena on a Cosmetic palette

Culture: Roman

Period: 1st century A.D.

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 9.3 cm high

Price: Sold

Ref: 3152

Provenance: Collection Bröse, Germany. Thence Galerie Antiken-Kabinett Gackstätter, Frankfurt. With certificate of Galerie Antiken-Kabinett Gackstätter, inventory number 01494.

Condition: Well preserved bronze casting.

Description: A bronze bust of Athena rounded at the bottom, which once served as a sliding weight. For this purpose the object slid via the suspension in the helmet of the goddess through the scale. Athena’s hair is parted in the centre, on the sides the curls are falling into her neck. The eyes are round and large, mouth and chin are distinctly worked out. Athena wears a high-necked gown, held by two fibula on her shoulders. The bust was mounted in the 19th century on an ancient Roman cosmetic schist palette. On the back an inscription with pencil, difficult to decipher. See: Norber Franken, “Aequipondia – figürliche Laufgewichte römischer und frühbyzantinischer Schnellwaagen“, Verlag und Datenbank für Geisteswissenschaften 1994, Tafeln 103 bis 105.