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Counterweight in the Shape of a Maenad's Head
(Roman Empire )
Counterweights for Roman scales were cast in bronze and filled with lead to achieve the appropriate weight. A counterweight was hung on one side of a scale to determine the weight of an object placed in a pan on the other side. Like many Roman objects of everyday utility, such as the oil lamp on the upper shelf behind the desk, it was given the shape of a real or imaginary being, here the head of a maenad, a female follower of the wine-god Bacchus. The elaborate treatment is exceptional for a counterweight; her eyes are silvered, as are those of many Roman bronze busts and figures. The Renaissance sculptor Antico gave his statuette of "Venus" silvered eyes to make it look more antique.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Exhibitions
| 1997-1998 | Artisans of Ancient Rome. The Newark Museum, Newark. |
| 1983 | Designed for Use: Ancient Industrial Arts. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
Conservation
| Date | Description | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| 10/15/1976 | Treatment | cleaned |
| 6/8/1983 | Treatment | cleaned |
Geographies
Italy, Rome (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 3 1/16 × W: 1 15/16 × D: 1 3/4 in. (7.8 × 5 × 4.4 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters
Location in Museum
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
54.922