Date:

Exceptionally rare Roman figurine at risk of leaving the UK

Arts Minister John Glen has placed a temporary export bar on an exceptionally rare bronze Roman figurine to provide an opportunity to keep it in the country.

The figure may be wearing a hooded woollen cloak known as the birrus Britannicus, which is specifically noted as being British in the Edict of Diocletian in 301AD.

- Advertisement -

It is extremely unusual for portable art from this period of Roman rule to depict a distinctively British character. Figures are usually shown wearing hooded garments of a different style common to Gaul and the North-Western provinces.

The level of detail displayed in this figurine and the quality of its execution are particularly fine.

Arts Minister John Glen said:

This exceptionally rare figurine is a fascinating representation of a distinctly British character.

- Advertisement -

I hope that a buyer comes forward to help keep this unique object in the UK so that current and future generations can continue to enjoy it.

The decision to defer the export licence follows a recommendation by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA), administered by The Arts Council.

RCEWA member Leslie Webster said:

This small bronze figurine gives an important new glimpse into the clothing of our Romano-British ancestors.

It has been suggested that he wears the distinctive birrus britannicus, or hooded British woollen cloak, which, with the quiver on his back, identifies the male figure as a hunter, suitably kitted out for cold and rainy weather.

Both the style and the braided decoration of the cloak is unparalleled in art, supporting the thesis that this is a unique depiction of a specifically British garment, recorded in the early 4th century AD as a significant export within the wider Roman Empire.

The RCEWA made its recommendation on the grounds of the figurine’s outstanding significance for the study of provincial Roman costume in the province of Britannia.

The decision on the export licence application for the figurine will be deferred until 23 September 2017. This may be extended until 23 November 2017 if a serious intention to raise funds to purchase it is made at the recommended price of £550.

GOV.UK

- Advertisement -

Stay Updated: Follow us on iOS, Android, Google News, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, TikTok, LinkedIn, and our newsletter

spot_img
Mark Milligan
Mark Milligan
Mark Milligan is a multi-award-winning journalist and the Managing Editor at HeritageDaily. His background is in archaeology and computer science, having written over 8,000 articles across several online publications. Mark is a member of the Association of British Science Writers (ABSW), the World Federation of Science Journalists, and in 2023 was the recipient of the British Citizen Award for Education, the BCA Medal of Honour, and the UK Prime Minister's Points of Light Award.
spot_img
spot_img

Mobile Application

spot_img

Related Articles

Chalcolithic cultural treasures unearthed in Caucasus

Archaeologists from the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences have uncovered 13 Chalcolithic-era sites, each yielding a wealth of cultural artefacts and material evidence.

Study reveals East Asia’s earliest gold-inlaid spear sheath

In 1954, a bronze spear sheath dating from Japan’s Kofun period (AD 300–538) was found beneath a rock on Okinoshima, a sacred island located off the coast of Munakata, Fukuoka.

Cache of military helmets from both World Wars discovered during roadworks

Road construction works in the Polish city of Wroclaw have unearthed an unusual cache of military objects from WWI and WWII.

Ten Roman wonders of Britain

Discover the Roman Empire’s extraordinary legacy left on Britain through this selection of ten Roman wonders.

New archaeological treasures unearthed at Finziade

Archaeologists excavating at Finziade in southern Italy have unearthed an artisan workshop and a domestic sacellum containing archaeological treasures.

Significant multi-period discoveries in Delbrück-Bentfeld

An archaeological excavation in Delbrück-Bentfeld, a town in the east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, has unearthed nearly 400 features of archaeological interest that span several centuries.

Excavation confirms the origin of Sheffield Castle

Archaeologists excavating the former site of Sheffield Castle site have confirmed that an artificial mound within the castle interior is a motte dating back to the earliest phase of the castle’s construction.

WWII bunker unexpectedly discovered during forest clearance works

A WWII bunker has been discovered during forest clearance works for the S17 Piaski–Hrebenne expressway in eastern Poland.