Roman Bronze Figure of Mercury Roman Bronze Figure of Mercury Roman Bronze Figure of Mercury Roman Bronze Figure of Mercury Roman Bronze Figure of Mercury Roman Bronze Figure of Mercury Roman Bronze Figure of Mercury
Roman Bronze Figure of Mercury
Roman Bronze Figure of Mercury
Roman Bronze Figure of Mercury
Roman Bronze Figure of Mercury
Roman Bronze Figure of Mercury
Roman Bronze Figure of Mercury
Roman Bronze Figure of Mercury

Roman Bronze Figure of Mercury

SKU: HQ.0128

Origin: Mediterranean
Circa: 1st Century AD to 2nd Century AD
Dimensions: 4.5" Height x 2" Width (11.5 cm x 5 cm), 7" Height on custom stand 
Medium: Bronze

A dynamic and lively example of the type, our Roman Bronze Mercury is depicted standing with his right leg forward, wearing the characteristic winged petasos, and fully draped in a chlamys with cascading v-shaped folds. He holds a money bag in his lowered right hand, while his left hand which would have held the caduceus remains open. Although small bronze figurines such as this were often used as votive offerings in temples, a particularly fine example such as this would have likely been kept in an intimate home shrine for private worship.

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Antiquities Christie's New York, June 11th, 2003. Private Collection, Beverly Hills, California.

Superbly cast with rich green patina. Beautiful contrasting reddish rust colored tones with touches of amber brown to the face and patches on the reverse of the mantle. Surface wear commensurate with age, small recesses throughout, with areas of original finish to the hands and legs. Fine details remaining in locks or hair, wings, and feet. Breaks and repairs to right wrist and both legs below the knee.

Mercury was the Roman god of commerce, communication, and travel. However he had the reputation of being a bit of a trickster and was also known as the patron of thieves, messengers, and merchants. In his role as chief messenger of the gods, Mercury controlled the movement of all things—goods, ideas, words, and people—even going so far as to escort the latter to the underworld after death.

Most Roman household shrines, especially in Gaul and Italy, had such bronze statuettes of Mercury, who served as the protector of wealth. The money pouch is a typically Roman attribute of the god, while the clothed and fully cloaked representation is less so.

For a similar example of the type see, 'Hermes,' Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, Maryland, accession number 54.985.

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