Roman Leaded Bronze Attachment of a Maenad

**Originally Listed At $1200**

Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 2nd century CE. A fabulously-preserved, cast-leaded-bronze bust of a youthful female, perhaps a maenad, depicted wearing a peplos with a circular button on the shoulder. Her head is turned, looking into the distance, with her wavy hair fantastically styled into two tall spikes while the rest flows down her back. A decorative border forms the bust into a rounded disc with the head projecting upward from the center. The details and preservation on this piece, especially the hair, are fantastic. In ancient Greece, the Maenads were the most important members of Dionysus's retinue; their Roman equivalent was the female entourage of Bacchus, the Bacchantes, who are often shown wearing fawn skin and cavorting drunkenly with various beasts of the forest. This bust may have been used as a steelyard weight or a chariot attachment. Custom museum-quality display stand included. Size: 3" W x 4.875" H (7.6 cm x 12.4 cm); 5.9" H (15 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Gorny & Mosch, Munich, Germany (auction 198, June 20, 2011, lot 276); ex-private British collection, London, United Kingdom, acquired in 1995

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#137175
Condition Report: Slight bending to overall form of decorated rim, small nicks to rim, hair, and head, with softening to some finer details, and minor abrasions, otherwise intact and excellent. Light earthen deposits and fabulous green patina throughout.