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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: pawg1234 on July 22, 2011, 01:22:46 PM

Title: Mercury bust statue
Post by: pawg1234 on July 22, 2011, 01:22:46 PM

Hello everyone, new member here.
I have an old statue of mercury that was handed down to me and I wanted to find out anything that I can about it. (How much its worth, how old it is)
What I know (or think I know anyway) about this piece is:
Its made from either bronze or brass. (I sanded a small section on the bottom and it is a very goldish brown color underneath)
It is approximately 14 and a 1/4 inches tall and weighs about 4lbs.
My grandmother said that that she thought my grandfather got it in Italy.

Hopefully somebody here has some knowledge about it.

Thanks.

Title: Re: Mercury bust statue
Post by: pawg1234 on July 22, 2011, 10:29:04 PM

Nobody eh?

Title: Re: Mercury bust statue
Post by: dontbe on July 23, 2011, 12:41:19 PM

Quote from: pawg1234 on July 22, 2011, 10:29:04 PM

Nobody eh?

Sometimes its a good thing that no one responds right away.. it means you don't have a common item.

Are three any makers marks on it? on the bottom?

Title: Re: Mercury bust statue
Post by: dontbe on July 23, 2011, 12:43:43 PM

The bottom is brass? with that nice patina? What is the bust itself made out of?

(please tell me you didn't sand the patina off on the side of the pedestal :(  )

Title: Re: Mercury bust statue
Post by: mart on July 23, 2011, 12:49:15 PM

And sometimes it takes a bit of research,,I haven`t found it yet !!

Title: Re: Mercury bust statue
Post by: pawg1234 on July 23, 2011, 01:00:08 PM

Thanks for the replies. There are no visible markings that I can find anywhere which I'm sure can make it harder to do any research. I have searched the internet quite a bit and haven't found a similar piece anywhere.
Hopefully somebody has some info though. :)

Title: Re: Mercury bust statue
Post by: pawg1234 on July 23, 2011, 01:32:09 PM

Here is a couple more pics. One of the underside and another of the base.

Title: Re: Mercury bust statue
Post by: mart on July 23, 2011, 02:54:44 PM

Does it say that the figure is Mercury ??  I do not think it is !!  I have never seen Mercury with a hat on !!

Title: Re: Mercury bust statue
Post by: waywardangler on July 23, 2011, 04:16:54 PM

Mart, if you google images Mercury you can find Mercury with the same hat and a hat with wings. I had thought the same thing until I looked at a bunch of images. I could not find one with a hat and clothes draped like this one though.

Title: Re: Mercury bust statue
Post by: dontbe on July 23, 2011, 04:30:20 PM

What is mercury himself made out of? Is he metal? of so, is he gold or gold plated? (just find it interesting that he is not oxidized.)

Title: Re: Mercury bust statue
Post by: pawg1234 on July 23, 2011, 05:51:39 PM

I'm just assuming it is Mercury...possibly Hermes? Mercury himself seems to be made from the same material. all one solid piece. I'm not sure what is going on with the gold color though.
How long does it take for the patina to develop? It has looked this way since I can remember, almost 30 years. I think my grandfather obtained it in the 50's.

Title: Re: Mercury bust statue
Post by: mart on July 23, 2011, 06:46:35 PM

OK, I did find those pics !!  Hermes and Mercury are the same I think !! Hermes is from Greek mythology and Mercury is Roman but is the same god !!  All I had seen before and what I could find using different search criteria had the wings on the side of his head !!  Of course I may not have paid close attention either !!  This is not my area of expertise unless its on a dime !!

Title: Re: Mercury bust statue
Post by: pawg1234 on July 23, 2011, 07:15:09 PM

He seems to have had wings on the hat at one time but they are gone now.

Title: Re: Mercury bust statue
Post by: waywardangler on July 23, 2011, 07:34:27 PM

Quote

He seems to have had wings on the hat at one time but they are gone now.

And now that is a BIG problem with value.

Title: Re: Mercury bust statue
Post by: pawg1234 on July 23, 2011, 07:37:40 PM

Ill just glue some feathers to his hat. ;D

Title: Re: Mercury bust statue
Post by: waywardangler on July 23, 2011, 07:42:56 PM

 ;D

Title: Re: Mercury bust statue
Post by: dontbe on July 24, 2011, 09:16:45 AM

Just make sure they are legal!

(You can ask seven seas about THAT! :)

Title: Re: Mercury bust statue
Post by: cellblime on July 24, 2011, 12:24:52 PM

I can usually find some good comparisons on liveauctioneers.com ......went there and searched for mercury bust and found a few, but none quite like yours.  They were made of similar materials and had a price range of $160-$2500, but they were all intact and had the wings.

Title: Re: Mercury bust statue
Post by: pawg1234 on July 24, 2011, 02:32:01 PM

Apparently its one of a kind. 8)
I have posted a question on an appraisal site so hopefully I get some info there. If not then I'll just have to have it appraised.