File:Roman figurine (FindID 526855).jpg

English: A cast lead alloy head - possibly from a figurine - of Roman date 50 - 300 AD. The figurine is well cast but crude / rustic in nature - the exact function is unknown it is possibly part of a larger figurine although it does bear some similar characteristics to steelyard weights. In plan, profile and section the head is irregular - in broad terms it is an irregular cylinder - depicting a bearded head and terminating below the neck line. The face of the head is abraded and rolled and so some of the features are heavily distorted. The face has a heavy brow with the eyebrows projecting, the eyes are almond shaped - with the pupils shown as slight recessed slots. The nose is large and squashed by plough roll, it is now lentoid in shape, the cheeks either side show definition, the mouth below is small and delicate the detail being cast and the lips projecting slightly. The chin is large and projects. The face is bearded with a close cropped beard and moustache (although the later is slight) which extends down the chin on the lower jaw and up the sides of the face to the hair line. The ears are not depicted. The hairline at the front of the head is depicted and seems to show curves; the line of the hair coincides with the casting seam - and due to the wear it is impossible to tell if a garland / crown is depicted in the hair, although this seems unlikely. The hair at the front is curly and is drawn back from the face; at the rear of the head is an unusual spiral star burst of hair, with what seems to be braids / locks of hair, being depicted being drawn into this and forming the arms of the spiral. Although the detail is cast - it doesn't seem as if any of the hair projected in high relief. The neck is high and around the throat is a cast design possibly suggesting some item of jewellery or collar from the clothes beneath, it creates a distinct V shape at the throat. Below this the neck flares to form a cylinder (diameter: 21.4mm) and is not decorated. The base of this cylinder is slightly iron stained but there are no cast or incised marks which would aid attachment to something else. Likewise, although the top of the head is abraded there is also no evidence of suspension loops or attachments (for example similar to those seen on steelyard weights).

The head measures: 60.0mm height, is 28.9mm width across the head (ear to ear), 33.6mm thick (nose to back of head) and weighs 256.66 grams

The head is a mid grey colour with a brownish milky surface patina that has been abraded to reveal a grey metal beneath. There is some evidence of light grey powdery surface corrosion but this is not extensive or invasive and is not laminating. A direct parallel has not been found - the style of the head is similar to that seen on late 1st and 2nd century emperors. The function is uncertain - the cylindrical base could fit into something else, whether the rest of the figurine or some form of holder. In shape and style it is similar to the design of some lead steelyard weights - but lacks the attachment features. Finally - it should be noted that it also bares some similarities with tobacco jar knops / lids of 17th and 18th Century (classic revival) date, however it is much larger in size and weight. Images of this item have been sent to Dr Ralph Jackson (British Museum) Sally Worrell (PAS Finds Advisor) and Dr Martin Henig (Oxford University).

Martin Henig has commented: This example "is very rubbed (eroded) It does look Julio-Claudian, and is either Roman or neo classical...It is clearly much bigger than the bronze Gaius (ArtBR pl.IIIb) from Colchester. However, lead is a curious material for something like this ... I havent seen a lead bust in life or in catalogues that is similar"