Bronze Statuette of Mercury

Culture: Roman

Period: 2nd century A.D.

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 9 cm high

Price: Sold

Ref: 3490

Provenance: From the French private collection M. R., acquired in the early 1980s.

Condition: Statuette intact. The bronze plate at the back with breaks on the sides indicating that the statuette was part of a larger sculptural group.

Description: Completely preserved bronze statuette of Mercury which once belonged to a larger sculptural group. The messenger of the gods with a winged hat (petasos) and winged shoes. He has a travel cloak (chlamys) around his shoulder and holds a full moneybag in his right hand. In his left one he holds his most important attribute, the caduceus. Apart from that the youthful Mercury is undressed, he stands with the weight on his right leg and has his left one slightly bent backwards. The statuette was attached at the back through a bronze plate on a wood- or metal furniture. Two rivets for suspension are still preserved. On an old wood base.