TimeLine Auctions Limited
Lot 1165
8th-12th century AD.
A bronze Anglo-Saxon or slightly later figurine of a clean-shaven male in close-fitting cap, cowl and short-sleeved tunic; the right arm raised, the left hand lifting the hem of the tunic to expose the genitals; the cap and cowl decorated with small equal-arm cross, a T-shape and a ?-shape. 53 grams, 52mm (2").
Found on the site of a new housing development in Amberfield, Burgh-by-Sands, Carlisle, Cumbria, UK, in 1993 (Grid reference NY 328589").
Dickens, A., Mortimer, R. & Tipper, J. The Early Anglo-Saxon Settlement and Cemetery at Bloodmoor Hill, Carlton Colville, Suffolk, Anglo-Saxon Studies in Archaeology and History vol.13; Rolland, H. Bronzes Antiques de Haute Provence, Paris, 1965; Zarnecki, G., Holt, J. & Holland, T. English Romanesque Art 1066-1200, London, 1984.
Recorded with the Carlisle museum services (item 191); accompanied by a print-out of the museum drawings and report.
The museum's brief report offers a range of dating possibilities without reaching any firm conclusion. The cap and hood have parallels in Romano-British imagery from the area, and the general execution of the piece is consistent with Roman period bronze figures. The distinctive headgear might be a Phrygian cap, identifying the figure as the god Mithras, who was widely worshipped by the Roman military. The mithraeum at Brocolita (Carrawburgh fort on Hadrian's Wall) was built about 200 AD and is about 40 miles (60 km) from the figure's findspot. An alternative identification would be with the god Priapus, who is sometimes depicted raising his tunic to reveal his genitals while carrying food in the folds of cloth (e.g. the example in the Museum Calvet d'Avignon, published in Rolland, item 136"). An 8th-9th century Anglo-Saxon date for the piece has been suggested on the basis of the use of crosses on the headgear. Figures modelled in the round are however very rare in the Middle Anglo-Saxon period. There are a handful of pendant figurines and other items with exposed genitals (e.g. the dancing warrior on the Finglesham buckle, the Carlton Colville pendant (Dickens, Mortimer & Tipper)) but none is shown lifting a tunic and all date from the 6th-7th century. Robed figures modelled in the round do appear with the development of Romanesque styles in the later 11th century (e.g. the figure of a saint in the Yorkshire museum (Zarnecki, Holt & Holland, fig.226) and the censer-cover in the Steggles collection (ibid. item 261).) A medieval date (12th or 13th century) has also been advanced. There is a strong similarity between the lentoid-section formation of the figure's head and some items of 12th century statuary (e.g. the head of Christ from All Hallows, South Cerney, Gloucestershire now in the British Museum (Zarnecki, Holt & Holland, fig.115)) and the naturalistic pose, details of costume and fineness of casting do favour a 12th-13th century date range. Fine condition; lower legs, hands and part of cap absent. Excessively rare.
