Description:

Roman, Imperial period, ca. 1st century CE. This adorable cast bronze mouse would have plugged a bronze lamp; he is depicted with his paws raised to his mouth, as if he is gnawing on a piece of bread. He once would have had a curled tail that would have been attached to the lamp to prevent the escape of any excess oil. Mice were a constant of Roman life (especially as Romans were not fans of cats) and the maker of this plug would have been acknowledging the very common problem of mice eating wicks and drinking lamp oil, a common complaint documented in many ancient texts. Mice also were a feature of Roman literature and art that depicted mice undertaking human activities proportional to their size. Size: 1.3" W x 0.8" H (3.3 cm x 2 cm)

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

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#137201

  • Condition: Tip of tail is lost. Dark mottled green and brown patina on surface.

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August 2, 2018 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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