Rights Holder: Somerset County Council
CC License:
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Unique ID: SOM-A6D7E7
Object type certainty: Probably
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
Gilded cast copper alloy figurine of a draped man wearing a turban, probably late Medieval to early Post Medieval in date, possibly late Medieval. The figure is moulded in the round with details on the back and sides as well as the front. He is standing in a slight S-shaped stance en-face his hips are slightly to the left and shoulders to the right with his head tilted to face in and down. From the side his legs appear straight while his back is slightly convex curved. His left arm is by his side, holding his drapery, his right hand is missing to an old break but the arm was bent at the shoulder with the hand held in front of his chest, possibly originally holding something. His face is detailed, although worn, and clear shaven.
He is wearing several layers of full, draped robe. An under robe reaches to the floor with a second, shorter layer ending above the knee; the chest part appears flat with possibly a slight collar. Over these robes appears something similar to a toga draped over the shoulders and reaching to around the knee in a straight fall at the back (hiding the shorter robe), at the front it is draped over the arms and gathered at the sides with one corner brought diagonally across his left shoulder to his right hip, gathering in several horizontal folds at the waist. There is a thickened border on this over drape showing as a collar at the back and a band diagonally across the chest. Around his head is a a thickened band which appears to be twisted material with clear diagonal; lines showing on one side, possibly a turban of some type. Within this outer band the top of the head is only slightly convex with a point in the centre. This point maybe part of the headgear or an attachment point, now broken.
The figure shands on a flat, slightly irregular, oval base with a crude, irregular extension from the underside. The base is 21.1mm by 14.9mm. This flat extension at right angles to the base narrows to a waist then widens with an irregular lower edge. This edge has a suggestion of two straight sided drilled holes, one to each side, now broken and incomplete. These may be the remains of peg holes to hold the figurine in place.
It is 112.6mm tall intotal, 93.2mm tall excluding the extension below the base. It is 30.1mm wide at the widest point and 13.7mm thick excluding the base. It weighs 187 grams.
The figure is unusual and was probably part of a larger composition, standing on a base with the extension going into the base and pegged. His gaze and stance directs the eye left and down, probably to the centre of the composition. This may also account for his s-shaped stance, reminiscent of medieval figurines. His clothing is possibly a renaissance interpretation of ancient dress although the level of robing and possible turban may suggest he is supposed to be an Near Eastern or Eastern figure, either as part of an exotic scene as found on epigenes or a biblical Old Testement figure or Magi from a religious composition. The missing hand and object may have resolved his identity but it is now unclear. In general the style of the clothing and realism of the figure perhaps suggest a 16th-17th century date.
The piece also appears similar to figures of John the Baptist and Mary found as part of crucifix groups and dated to the 15th to 16th centuries in the size, method of attachment, material and in particular the shaped curve in front view and profile. Compare, for example, KENT-00DF38, WILT-3E4001, SWYOR-7C6154 and in particular PUBLIC-C4671B.
Sub class: St John the Evangelist
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1400
Date to: Circa AD 1700
Quantity: 1
Length: 112.6 mm
Width: 30.1 mm
Thickness: 14.9 mm
Weight: 187 g
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Other reference: SCC receipt 16616
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Surface Treatment: Gilded
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
No references cited so far.