ITEM: Statuette of a duck, Finial terminal MATERIAL: Bronze CULTURE: Roman PERIOD: 1st - 3rd Century A.D DIMENSIONS: 16 mm x 24 mm CONDITION: Good condition PROVENANCE: Ex European private collection, Ex ALARA S.P.R.L (1976), Ex F.K. collection, 1972 - 1976 Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and European Union export license If you bid outside the European Union and win the item, we will have to apply for an export licence for your country and shipping will take 3 to 5 weeks. The Roman duck statuette, when designed as a finial terminal, serves as a charming testament to the Roman penchant for infusing everyday objects with zoomorphic elegance. These small bronze castings were typically used to crown the ends of furniture components, such as the arms of a cathedra (chair), or as decorative caps for chariot poles and balance scales. The duck was a favored subject due to its sleek, aerodynamic form, which allowed the artist to create a smooth, tactile surface that was both functional as a handle or grip and pleasing to the eye. In Roman iconography, the duck was often associated with fidelity, domesticity, and the aquatic realm, frequently appearing in Nilotic scenes that celebrated the fertility of the river. When used as a terminal for a piece of furniture or a luxury vessel, the duck signaled a sense of refinement and a connection to the natural world. These finials were often cast using the lost-wax method, allowing for fine detailing of the feathers and the characteristic curve of the bill. In more opulent households, these bronze ducks might have been inlaid with silver or niello to highlight the plumage, making even a mundane household item a work of art. Beyond their decorative appeal, these finials provide archaeologists with significant data regarding Roman metalwork and trade. Because these small terminals were durable and easily transported, they are found across the diverse provinces of the Empire, from the villas of Roman Britain to the marketplaces of the Levant. Their presence on objects like the fulcrum (the decorated end of a Roman couch) or as weights for statera (steelyard scales) illustrates a society that valued aesthetic consistency. Today, a well-preserved duck finial is a prized artifact, capturing the whimsical side of Roman craftsmanship that balanced utility with a deep-seated appreciation for the animal kingdom.