Bronze sculpture basket bearer Silenus. 1880 - 1900

Article of the Grand Tour in the STYLE of the bronzes of the Chiurazzi foundry in Naples, which, as is the case, was copied by many art foundries of the time and sold as souvenirs to tourists who traveled to Italy from all over Europe and beyond to admire the works and discoveries in Pompeii.

The original statue was found in Pompeii on May 2nd, 1864 and has been in the Archaeological Museum of Naples ever since.

The sculpture represents a Silenus raising the body of a snake above his head to throw it to the ground.

This was intended to serve as a support for a basket held by the three acanthus leaves projecting upwards. The purpose of the sculpture was therefore not only decorative but also practical, characteristics that often coincide in Roman bronze work.

The sculpture the shoes and vine leaves in Silenus' hair are worked out in great detail.