Webberley Antiques

Description

At over 80cms tall, this very rare gilt bronze of the dancing faun is a true delight.

Such a joyous figure, the original statue was set on a plinth over a large ornamental pool outside the "House of Faun" one of the finest Roman houses unearthed at Pompei.

Many copies taken from moulds of the original Pompei statues and artifacts were cast by Italian Foundries throughout the 18th and 19th Century - and bought by tourists who embarked on the "Grand Tour" of Europe.

The process for gilding was extremely dangerous, involving a mix of mercury and very high Karat gold ground together and applied to the statue surface and then fired to evaporate the mercury - creating deadly fumes - and a process no longer employed of course.

The resultant figure has a pure gold layer hardened over the bronze and here it is in fine original condition with only minor rubs.

There is a small old repair (gilded and well blended) to a hole in the upper thigh of the raised leg about 3mm x 3mm and a fine scratch in the base about 3 cms long which has been filled and repaired. These probably occurred at the time of making - as was most common - and are small stable infills which have been gilded and are well blended and not noticeable.

A very impressive gilt bronze of a wonderful early Roman statue in fine original condition.


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