Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A cast bronze miniature figure of a standing rooster, perhaps made as a copy of a larger bronze statue, as we believe that many miniature bronze figures from Rome are. The rooster stands in a proud pose, his enormous tailfeathers hanging down behind him and his crest raised. His body is carefully sculpted to have thick feathers. From the late Republican period, Romans had extensive cultural contact with the Egyptians, and in the Egyptian religion roosters were a common sacrifice in rituals relating to the underworld and afterlife. Burnt chicken bones have been found at several sanctuaries and this rooster probably represents a fellow unwittingly on his way to be sacrificed. Size: 1.3" W x 1.35" H (3.3 cm x 3.4 cm); 1.75" H (4.4 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

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#131345

Dark patina on surface, with nice remaining detail. Feet are an ancient loss.