Roman large pottery bust of a young boy

£450

A large hollow moulded pottery bust of a young boy.

The boy's hair is platted in a strip down the middle of the head and he wears an amuletic chain around his neck. In either hand he holds a bunch of grapes and a dove or chicken. Although images of young boys are usually associated with the Egyptianising god Harpocrates, this bust forms part of an unusual group which falls outside of this category and cannot be directly attributed to the child-god.

The grapes and bird respectively represent abundance/fertility and love,  the necklace may represent wealth and the toga probably represents a noble birth-right. It seems likely that this bust commemorates either the birth or death of a child, perhaps the first-born son into a wealthy family, and that his accessories indicate the good omens or wishes for his future health and prosperity.

An unusually direct and personal artifact from the ancient world hinting at the great importance the Romans placed on familial continuity.

Roman, probably from Italy or the Eastern Mediterranean, 1st or 2nd Century AD

Repaired from three large pieces with three smallish areas of crude plaster restoration below the left elbow, above the right arm and on the right of the neck.

Size:  19.3 x 12.3 cms

Formerly in the collection of a museum curator, California, USA. Acquired at Superior Auctions, lot 28, in 1994.

Mounted on a good quality detachable custom-made brass display stand.