Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 2nd century CE. A gorgeously-preserved, cast-bronze attachment featuring the bust of a female, perhaps a Maenad, depicted wearing a peplos with a circular button at the shoulder. Her head is turned slightly to her right, with almond-shaped eyes peering into the distance, and 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 and outward from the top. The details and preservation on the piece, especially of the hair and face, 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 piece may have been used as a weight or as an attachment for a chariot. Size: 3" W x 4.8" H (7.6 cm x 12.2 cm); 5.75" H (14.6 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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#137280
Condition
Losses to one area of decorative border. Minor nicks and abrasions to border, body, head, and hair, with light softening to some finer details, and light encrustations mainly along the verso. Fabulous green patina throughout.