File:Roman Figurine from a Mercury Group (FindID 891573).jpg

English: Copper alloy figurine. Cast model of a cockerel rendered in schematic form, with a slightly elongated bowl-shaped body, curled tail feather, short curved wings on top of the body whose outer edges project slightly [1.2mm] beyond it , and a small comb down the centre of the head. A bill appears merely as the narrower end of the sub-triangular or conical head. The feet are integrally cast along with the rest, though separated by a gap which extends into the body of the bird, and there is no attempt to model claws, as the feet end in slightly expanded 'pods' which join each other. The bird does balance on its feet, though an integrally cast loop springing from the back retains a single pointed hook of length 14mm for the figures suspension. The hook is made from drawn wire with a separate strip wrapped around its upper end. Two stamped hollows appear on the wing on one side of the body, but this texturing was not symmetrical.

The cockerel is probably from a miniature sculptural group depicting the god Mercury, his attributes and attendants; a goat might also have figured. The finder kindly suggests a function as a steelyard poise; however, this figure could only have served on a miniature version whose function would be better served by a scale pan balance. There is no interest in a naturalistic portrayal, the features being as perfunctory as those of British plate brooches depicting avian forms, serving only to identify the subject. It is uncertain whether the cockerel would have been suspended from the god's hand, or from a frame or a stand. Its size might suggest Mercury to have been a figurine of c.100mm height, though realistic scaling may well have been neglected. Mercury was invoked by merchants, thieves and travellers, occupations which tended to overlap. A Mercury group could occupy a small household shrine or niche and was of its nature portable, and its isolated discovery need not imply a larger shrine or temple. The style of this example is clearly provincial and without Classical aspiration, following the native tradition of representation. Suggested date: Early Roman, 43-200.

Height: 31.2mm, Length: 40mm, Width: 15.8mm, Weight: 22.88gms