2 Roman Imperial Bronze Figures - Mercury & Venus
**First Time At Auction**
Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 2nd to 3rd century CE. A lovely pair of cast leaded-bronze figures depicting Mercury (Greek Hermes) - messenger of the gods - and Venus (Greek Aphrodite) - goddess of beauty and romantic love. Mercury presents nude with his left thigh extended while wearing a strap over his right shoulder and grasping his signature caduceus staff in his left hand. He peers off to his right with petite eyes, and his bushy coiffure is surmounted by a petasos helmet. Alternatively, Venus stands nude in contrapposto with her left knee bent and both arms held aloft while grasping a sash draped behind her neck. Both figures have developed thick layers of attractive green and brown patina. Size (Venus): 1.11" W x 2.64" H (2.8 cm x 6.7 cm); (Mercury): 1.16" W x 1.9" H (2.9 cm x 4.8 cm)
Provenance: ex-Estate of Eldert Bontekoe, Pegasi Numismatics, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, acquired before 2000
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#158808
Condition Report: Mercury figure has losses to right arm at bicep, left arm and bottom half of caduceus below elbow, and both legs below lower thighs as shown; Venus figure is intact and very good. Both figures have softening to finer details as well as minor abrasions and encrustations. Great patina throughout.
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**First Time At Auction**
Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 2nd to 3rd century CE. A lovely pair of cast leaded-bronze figures depicting Mercury (Greek Hermes) - messenger of the gods - and Venus (Greek Aphrodite) - goddess of beauty and romantic love. Mercury presents nude with his left thigh extended while wearing a strap over his right shoulder and grasping his signature caduceus staff in his left hand. He peers off to his right with petite eyes, and his bushy coiffure is surmounted by a petasos helmet. Alternatively, Venus stands nude in contrapposto with her left knee bent and both arms held aloft while grasping a sash draped behind her neck. Both figures have developed thick layers of attractive green and brown patina. Size (Venus): 1.11" W x 2.64" H (2.8 cm x 6.7 cm); (Mercury): 1.16" W x 1.9" H (2.9 cm x 4.8 cm)
Provenance: ex-Estate of Eldert Bontekoe, Pegasi Numismatics, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, acquired before 2000
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#158808
Condition Report: Mercury figure has losses to right arm at bicep, left arm and bottom half of caduceus below elbow, and both legs below lower thighs as shown; Venus figure is intact and very good. Both figures have softening to finer details as well as minor abrasions and encrustations. Great patina throughout.
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