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This stunning bronze figurine is a standing winged representation of Eros, the Greco-Roman god of love. This piece dates circa 1st century B.C., and was likely produced by a Greek artist in Alexandria, Egypt. This piece is approximately 6.5 inches high and stands by itself, such is the exceptional workmanship of this piece. There is also great detail seen on this piece within the wings and braided hair. The patina is as exceptional as the workmanship, and there are dark green, red, and light brown highlights. The surface of this piece was highly polished in antiquity, and this was common relative to Greek Hellenistic bronzes that were produced in Alexandria. One can still see the glossy surface of this piece, and this piece is intact, save for the lower arms and the top of the left wing that is missing. The body of this piece has a slight twist to the torso, an effeminate slim nude body, and one leg extended forward which are all additional attributes of Greek Hellenistic cannons of art, and all of these attributes all come together to emphasize the erotic nature of the Greek god of love, Eros. The erotic design of this piece also places a focus on the petite penis, which appealed to a homosexually inclined society in the late Hellenistic period. The greatest Greek artists produced masterworks of art that fell into this catagory, and this applied especially to Praxiteles, who produced the bronze Apollo Sauroktonos ("Lizard Slayer"), whose slim nude standing body has an analogous look to the piece offered here. (See "Greek Sculpture" by Andrew Stewart, Yale University Press, Vol. I and II, 1990, p. 178-179.) The piece offered here also has a rounded young baby face, and braided hair that is tied in a top-knot. This top-knot likely represents a crown of Isis, and is an Egyptian convention of art. Hellenistic bronzes produced in Alexandria, in many cases, had attributes that repreaented a combination of Gods that were Greek, Roman, and Egyptian. The top-knot seen on this stunning piece is a subtle example of this duality of representation. The piece offered here was likely in a private shrine, as Eros amoung the ancients was worshipped with the same solemnity as his mother Venus, and his influence extended over the heavens, the sea, and the earth, and even the empire of the dead; his divinity was universally acknowledged, and vows, prayers, and sacrifices were daily offered to him. This piece is also from the famed Maurice Nahman collection (1868-1948), who was a dealer who lived in Cairo for many years, and had at least half a century of daily contact with Egyptian antiquities, which resulted in Nahman acquiring virtually unparalleled experience in this subject. This piece stands on a custom plexiglas stand, and the piece and the stand together is approximately 10 inches high. Ex: Maurice Nahman collection.(1868-1948). Ex: Christie's Antiquities, London, April 2004, no. 282.
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