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Copyright credit: Art Museum - University of Toronto
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Copyright credit: Art Museum - University of Toronto
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Copyright credit: Art Museum - University of Toronto
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Copyright credit: Art Museum - University of Toronto
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Copyright credit: Art Museum - University of Toronto
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Copyright credit: Art Museum - University of Toronto
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Copyright credit: Art Museum - University of Toronto
ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE WEIGHT
Authority
Mint
Denomination
Material
Copper alloy (bronze or brass)
Manufacture
Cast
Shape
Human bust or head
Length
10.20 cm
Width
6.85 cm
Height
20.30 cm
Metrology
| Mass (g) | Mass (grain) | Date of measurement | Reference | fragmented | cleaned | reference weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1839.00 | - | Nov. 16, 2017 | A. Pugliese | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Iconography
| Symbol | Technique | Direction | Position | Number | Synecdoche |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roman Empress | Shaped | Bust |
Wear
Lightly worn
Corrosion
Lightly corroded
Handle
No
Suspension hole
No
Recarved mould
No
Recarved weight
No
Intentionally destroyed
No
Archaeological description
Bronze steelyard weight representing a Byzantine empress attired in a tunic and robe, richly folded and embellished with incised circles. The face is well-modeled, with large eyes and hollow pupils (once possibly inlaid with perishable material); the nose is particularly polished and partially severed. She wears a diadem, elaborately incised with a criss-cross pattern and embellished with jewels in high relief. The face is framed with two long, curled tresses. She wears earrings and a necklace composed of large jewels. The left hand holds a scroll, the right one reposes partially on her chest and robe. It presents green patina all around the body, with some abrasions at the back. The sides are slightly scratched; partially broken below the left arm (max. 2.75 cm). On the left side of the head it presents two small holes and a 2.1 cm fracture. The inside is hollow with coarse surface.
Autopsy
Yes
INSCRIPTION
| Language | Technique | Legend type |
|---|
Fac simile
Edition
Monogram
ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXT
Findspot (region)
Findspot (site)
context
CIRCUMSTANCES OF ACQUISITION
Region
City
Date of first acquisition
circumstances
DATING OF THE WEIGHT
Curatorial Section
LATE ROMAN AND BYZANTINE
Time frame
FROM
350
TO
450
Comments on Chronology
The weight is dated to the early fifth century AD or earlier.
COLLECTION HISTORY
Collection
| Name | Date of acquisition | Inventory number |
|---|---|---|
| Malcove Collection | Jan. 26, 1959 | None |
| Art Museum – University of Toronto | Jan. 1, 1982 | M82.395a |
Bibliography
| Reference | Page/Column | Reference (number) | Plate / Figure | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ostrogorsky 1969 | 41 | None | 11 | "late fourth or early fifth century. Ht. 8.5 inches, w. 4 inches". |
| Weitzmann 1979 | 344-345 | 327 | None | "Constantinople, early 5th century. Bronze, 20.3x10.2". "The Malcove weight can be tentatively identified as a portrayal of Licinia Eudoxia, wife of Valentinian III". |
| Campbell 1985 | 72 | 90 | None | None |
| McClanan 2002 | 41-42 | None | 2.11 | None |
VARIA
Additional comment
Dr. Lillian Malcove bought the weight on the 26th January 1966 from the NY art dealer J.J. Klejman (original purchase invoice conserved at the Art Museum). In 1982 it was bequeathed to the Art Museum at the University of Toronto.
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