Large Roman gilt-bronze male right hand

Roman, 2nd -3rd century AD
Length: 26.5 cm
Provenance: Private collection UK acquired Paris art market, 1978
 
 
This monumental hand with fingers gently curled towards the palm and thumb, nails, palm-lines and tendons all defined. The hand would have extended horizontally held an attribute.
 
Literature: A similar gilt bronze left arm and hand found in a well at Clairmanais near Rheims, France, in 1876, now in the collection of the British Museum (acc.no.1904,0204.1249). A Hellenistic right hand of comparable form can be seen in M. Comstock & C. Vermeule, 'Greek, Etruscan and Roman Bronzes in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston' (Boston, 1971), no. 69.