Romano-British Cupid Statuette
2nd-3rd century AD. A bronze statuette depicting a naked winged Cupid in a dynamic pose, right arm raised up in a greeting gesture, left arm extended, standing legs; head with stylised facial details, curly hair covering the ears, short wings on the back, the statuette may have formed part of a larger group centred around a statuette of Venus; mounted on a custom-made display stand. See Stead, I., Excavations at Winterton Roman Villa and other Roman Sites in North Lincolnshire. Department of the Environment Archaeological Reports 9 in HMSO, 1976, for similar specimens. 93 grams total, 83mm including stand (3 1/4"). From the private collection of Antony John Scammell (1937-2019); acquired from John L. Homan, Barrow Upon Humber, UK in 1991; previously found West Country in 1935; accompanied by the original invoice and old identification card. Cupid (Greek Eros) was the god of mighty love, the overwhelming force that pushes and attracts men and women. The Greeks depicted Eros as a young man of beautiful appearance, naked, often armed with a bow and arrows with which he pierced the hearts of mortals and gods with love. According to tradition, Eros was taken by his mother, Aphrodite, before the gods: Zeus immediately understood what and how much damage the divine boy would cause, and advised Aphrodite to suppress him. The goddess could not obey, and instead hid the baby in a wood, where he survived by feeding on the milk of wild beasts. He was still very young when he first crafted a bow and arrows, practising until he became an infallible archer. Antony John Scammell (1937-2019) was born, and lived his entire life, in the city of Bristol, England. Already from an early age he was enthralled by history and the heroes that it created. While serving overseas with the British Army, Antony began collecting coins and banknotes and this led to collecting a variety of different items throughout his life. From the early 1960s onward, Antony invested in acquiring ancient artefacts. Antony's vast collections started with Egyptian antiquities, but soon branched into Greek and Roman civilisations. The Roman civilisation fascinated him most and, when family commitments allowed, archaeological digs were coordinated in the west of England. These digs uncovered numerous artefacts, many of which were donated to local museums. In retirement, the collecting continued apace, branching into UK coins, British Empire banknotes and fossils.
Condition Report: Fine condition.
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2nd-3rd century AD. A bronze statuette depicting a naked winged Cupid in a dynamic pose, right arm raised up in a greeting gesture, left arm extended, standing legs; head with stylised facial details, curly hair covering the ears, short wings on the back, the statuette may have formed part of a larger group centred around a statuette of Venus; mounted on a custom-made display stand. See Stead, I., Excavations at Winterton Roman Villa and other Roman Sites in North Lincolnshire. Department of the Environment Archaeological Reports 9 in HMSO, 1976, for similar specimens. 93 grams total, 83mm including stand (3 1/4"). From the private collection of Antony John Scammell (1937-2019); acquired from John L. Homan, Barrow Upon Humber, UK in 1991; previously found West Country in 1935; accompanied by the original invoice and old identification card. Cupid (Greek Eros) was the god of mighty love, the overwhelming force that pushes and attracts men and women. The Greeks depicted Eros as a young man of beautiful appearance, naked, often armed with a bow and arrows with which he pierced the hearts of mortals and gods with love. According to tradition, Eros was taken by his mother, Aphrodite, before the gods: Zeus immediately understood what and how much damage the divine boy would cause, and advised Aphrodite to suppress him. The goddess could not obey, and instead hid the baby in a wood, where he survived by feeding on the milk of wild beasts. He was still very young when he first crafted a bow and arrows, practising until he became an infallible archer. Antony John Scammell (1937-2019) was born, and lived his entire life, in the city of Bristol, England. Already from an early age he was enthralled by history and the heroes that it created. While serving overseas with the British Army, Antony began collecting coins and banknotes and this led to collecting a variety of different items throughout his life. From the early 1960s onward, Antony invested in acquiring ancient artefacts. Antony's vast collections started with Egyptian antiquities, but soon branched into Greek and Roman civilisations. The Roman civilisation fascinated him most and, when family commitments allowed, archaeological digs were coordinated in the west of England. These digs uncovered numerous artefacts, many of which were donated to local museums. In retirement, the collecting continued apace, branching into UK coins, British Empire banknotes and fossils.
Condition Report: Fine condition.
