Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. An ancient cast bronze right forearm and hand from a figure, perhaps a woman or adolescent given the scale, presented with a life-like pose - as if holding or about to grasp something. Notice the carefully delineated digits and nailbeds of this naturalistically rendered hand. In the Classical World, bronze was the preferred material for dedicatory sculpture. Due to its high tensile strength, bronze enabled a sculptor to create figures with impressive poses. Stone, on the other hand (no pun intended), presented more limitations. Unfortunately, though many bronze sculptures were created during antiquity, most have vanished with far fewer surviving in comparison to their marble counterparts, as bronze sculptures were frequently melted down, so that the bronze could be reused. Because of this, surviving Roman bronzes like this example are very special. Size: 8.5" H (21.6 cm); 9.75" H (24.8 cm) on included custom stand.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Richard Wagner collection, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA, acquired in the 1960s
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#143878
Condition
Perforations on outer side of the hand are casting flaws. Perforations at lower end of forearm were intended for attachment. Chips to lower edge, one inch surface divot to lower, inner end of forearm. Bronze has developed a beautiful bright blue-green patina.