Presented is a wonderful bronze bust of Hermes/Mercury, dating to circa 1850-1900. This bronze is likely French or otherwise continental European. The bronze is superbly detailed and well cast, showing Hermes with curly hair and the characteristic wings emerging from the sides of his head, with a somber expression. The bronze has a round pedestal type foot, and likely would have been on a marble plinth or perhaps a wooden base originally; the threaded holes to bolt it to such a base are visible on the underside. But even without such a base, the bust sits perfectly on its round foot.
This piece is in excellent condition. The patina is in great shape. The nut on the central threaded shaft is a replacement. The bronze itself has no breaks and no repairs.
The bust stands about 10 3/4 inches tall and measures about 5 1/4 inches at the widest, with a base diameter of about 3 3/8 inches.
This bronze weighs 2.7 kilograms or 5.95 pounds. -jm
