Statue of whom? or what....

[woody50]

One of the finds that I like is this statue, material lead/tin, mostly lead I think. Found at the bottom of a canal, I was using a special net and pole to see what I could find. Found this, but never could find out what or who it is. Appears to be wearing a helmete and nose guard... and was mounted on something, was either torn off or pushed off....

Any ideas anyone? Who? How old? It is 10,5 cm (4.13 inches) high and weighs 275g (9.7 ounces).

 

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[Gypsy Heart]

Looks like a Roman Legionare

 

[extractor]

I ditto what Gypsy said.

 

[woody50]

Thanks Gypsy and Extractor for the information. The romans were never here in West Friesland so I guess it would have been brought to this area by someone. I guess someone threw it or lost it later in the small canal.

 

[Gypsy Heart]

I thought the Romans were all over Friesland?


http://frieslandchurches.tripod.com/friesland.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~gverver/fries.htm

 

[woody50]

I thought the Romans were all over Friesland?

http://frieslandchurches.tripod.com/friesland.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~gverver/fries.htm

The romans in the Netherlands did not really have much up north beyond the big rivers (which run east-west generally), they were south of those. But trading did take place with tribes living in the place called Friesland for sure. The Low Countries were conquered by Roman forces under Julius Caesar in c.58 BC. The Netherlands therefore became Rome's northern frontier on the European mainland, although the Romans never defeated the Frisians and thus never conquered the piece of the Netherlands now known as Fryslan and Groningen. For the rest of the current Netherlands, they did conquer more or less everything.

The Romans built the first cities and created the province of Germania Inferior. For most of the large area of Roman occupation in the Netherlands, the boundary of the Roman Empire lay along the Rhine. Romans built the first military forts and cities in the Netherlands. The most important of these were Utrecht, Nijmegen, and Maastricht. The northern part of the Netherlands, which was outside the Roman Empire and where the Frisians lived (and still do), was also heavily influenced by its strong southern neighbour. The Romans also introduced writing.

That is Friesland. But I live and hunt mostly in North Holland, which is a province of The Netherlands. In this province there is an area called West Friesland.

Much of the western Netherlands was barely inhabited between the end of the Roman period and around 1100. Around 1000, farmers from Flanders and Utrecht began purchasing the swampy land, draining it and cultivating it. This process happened quickly and the uninhabited territory was settled in only a few generations. They built independent farms that were not part of villages, something unique in Europe at the time.

Before this happened the language and culture of most of the people who lived in the area that is now Holland were Frisian. The area was known as "West Friesland" (Westfriesland). As settlement progressed, the area quickly became Dutch. This area became known as 'Holland' in the 12th century. (The part of North Holland situated north of the 'IJ' is still colloquially known as West Friesland).

The Netherlands is named by many people Holland. Holland is just a part of The Netherlands. It has a North Holland and South Holland part. Before it was called Holland the area was know as WestFriesland.

The people living in West Friesland still speak "West Fries", some words are quite different than Dutch.

The blue arrow points to where the remains of West Friesland still exist, the Red arrow points to Friesland.
Hope this answers your question....

 

[curbdiggercarl57]

CurberdiggerCarlius, owner and operator of several high class vomitoriums. Distant relative of mine. Would like to have it returned to out ancestral home, out here in Denver. Other than that, I'm at a loss. Could send a scan to some museums, might be a larger version of him out there. Good luck!

 

[woody50]

CurberdiggerCarlius, owner and operator of several high class vomitoriums. Distant relative of mine. Would like to have it returned to out ancestral home, out here in Denver. Other than that, I'm at a loss. Could send a scan to some museums, might be a larger version of him out there. Good luck!

Wow you have a great family! Don't like the idea about vomitoriums though too much though....
But just send your address and the $10.000 postage stamp and it will be in your house tomorrow!
I will try some museum, maybe they will know. Tried one but they didn't a while back.
Thanks.

 

[curbdiggercarl57]

Ahh, but the reunions got pretty disgusting! Keep us posted, like the idea of a helmet top.

 

[CRUSADER]

My thoughts are its a 1890-1920s souvenir piece made to look like a Roman Soldier or other ancient warrior.

 

[woody50]

My thoughts are its a 1890-1920s souvenir piece made to look like a Roman Soldier or other ancient warrior.

Hi Cru, well I think I could go along with that dating. Always wonder what it was used for, and why it wound up where it did... Thanks.

 

[veronasteve]

i think the artist has mixed his\her warriors a bit,the shield isnt roman...looks a bit saxon as well...my guess on date.....1730-1890ish, i think the base the statue stands on on looks a bit 18thc??

 

[dugit]

I think it looks like Joan of Ark

 

[Silver Searcher]

Hi Woody.....looks to me more like a Saracen or Moore type figure judging be his head gear he looks like he comes from a hot climate.

 

[woody50]

Thanks all of you for your determinations. I have kept a record of each one. If later I do hear from some museums I will let you know what the pro's think (although much of the time I think WE know better). I just don't know to which museum to ask something like this.

 

[jackie blue]

Judging from the bust area and the hairstyle, I think it's Joan of Arc.

 

[woody50]

Dugit and Jackie, why do you both think its a portait of Joan of Arc? Hairstyle, well it could be, but I think many men had long hair back then, especially warriors... I have a couple of closeups. The face (or nose) is pretty flat, I guess that it had fallen against something....About the bust area, could that not be part of the defensive armor?

 

[veronasteve]

its a mish mash of ancient warriors im sure,looks male to me,has long hair( saxon,gaul) roman type armour clothing,cloak,decorated shield.maybe part of a pair off some sort of furnture,book case ?

 

[jgowans]

My first impression was female but the later photos look male or eunuch.

 

[shiloh_f2hunter]

Looks like the Roman God of War but don't know?