FIGURINE

A complete lead alloy figurine of possible Roman date apparently showing a crouching human figure. There are a handful of similar figures on this database, described as bound slaves, and all have characteristics similar to this item. But there are difference also. In this case the figure is crouched, or sitting with knees drawn up close to the chest, arms reaching forwards, one hand (the right) between the knees, the other held close to it but just above. A gap is thus created between the arms and the upper torso of the body.

The upper body leans forwards a little, the head is inclined slightly to one side (the right). The hairline can be discerned, particularly at the back, where it lies level with the top of the ears, and small vertical lines indicate texture to the hair. The ears have been indicated by small projections, the eyes similarly, clearly almond shaped on the left side, obscured a little on the other. The nose is a snub like projection, the lips are created by fine strips of metal, making an oval shape. Considerable care has been taken to show the rounded shoulders and a fine line of metal represents the protruding backbone.

On this item there is a collar, rather like a 'wing collar' around the neck. On other figurines on the data base this is usually associated with a rope linking neck, wrists and feet.There is no evidence of rope in this case.

All the figurines are pierced in some way, usually transversely through the body. In the case of the Hampshire example(HAMP-378231) there is also a hole from the top of the head to the bottom. Presumably this is so that the figurine could be worn as a pendant. There is no other way of attaching any of these figurines to anything else and they do not appear to be made to stand on a surface. There is no such piercing in this case, but a gap is created by the position of the arms in relation to the rest of the body.

Of all the figurines in the database, one from Suffolk, missing a head (SF-7584A1), which is the only other one of lead alloy, and with no representation of rope, is the one which is stylistically most like this one, It seems likely that, as suggested there, " It is possible that the current example is of similar date (to the Roman examples), although it might equally belong to the Post-Medieval to Modern periods of the 18th-19th centuries and relate to periods of European slavery/slave trade." Models and medals showing slaves are not uncommon from the period of the anti-slave trade era.

It is 34.85mm in length/height, and 15.07mm in width (across the shoulders). The head is 14.13mm x 11.71mm and 11.83mm in height. It weighs 46.98g.