Ancient Roman Bronze Mercury statue
15
days
13
hours
24
minutes
58
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 600 - € 750
No bids placed
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Ancient Roman bronze Mercury statue, circa 1st–2nd century AD, depicting Mercury in a relaxed, nude stance with a chlamys, winged petasos and cornucopia, approximately 575 mm high, with olive‑green patina and a missing right underarm, not self‑supporting without a stand (stand not included), acquired in 2024 from the Netherlands; certificate of authenticity available upon request; EU shipping only.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Roman statue depicting the god Mercury (Hermes), shown standing in a relaxed stance. The youthful figure is rendered nude apart from a short cloak (chlamys), draped over one shoulder and across the torso. On his head he wears the characteristic winged cap (petasos), clearly identifying him as Mercury. In his arm he holds a cornucopia, symbolising abundance, prosperity, and good fortune.
Such bronze statuettes were commonly used as household cult objects or votive offerings, reflecting personal devotion to Mercury, the god of trade, travel, communication, and the prosperity of merchants.
Height: ± 575 mm
Condition: good solid condition, smooth olive-green patina, his right underarm missing (from antiquity). Signs of wear consistent with age and use.
The figure can not stand unsupported. The display stand is for photographic purposes only and is not included in the sale.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
Mercury, the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Hermes is the messenger of the gods and is associated with trade, prosperity, eloquence, and communication. His attributes were a purse, winged cap and a caduceus.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Roman statue depicting the god Mercury (Hermes), shown standing in a relaxed stance. The youthful figure is rendered nude apart from a short cloak (chlamys), draped over one shoulder and across the torso. On his head he wears the characteristic winged cap (petasos), clearly identifying him as Mercury. In his arm he holds a cornucopia, symbolising abundance, prosperity, and good fortune.
Such bronze statuettes were commonly used as household cult objects or votive offerings, reflecting personal devotion to Mercury, the god of trade, travel, communication, and the prosperity of merchants.
Height: ± 575 mm
Condition: good solid condition, smooth olive-green patina, his right underarm missing (from antiquity). Signs of wear consistent with age and use.
The figure can not stand unsupported. The display stand is for photographic purposes only and is not included in the sale.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
Mercury, the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Hermes is the messenger of the gods and is associated with trade, prosperity, eloquence, and communication. His attributes were a purse, winged cap and a caduceus.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Details
Culture
Ancient Roman
Century/ Timeframe
1st - 2nd century AD
Name of object
Mercury statue
Acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Year acquired
2024
Material
Bronze
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Previous owner - year acquired
2024
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
