The Armour Archive

I just bought this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stone-Statue-of ... 7675.l2557

I'm pretty certain this figure is meant to be St. Peter, given the keys. I don't know enough about early medieval style to pin him down to a time or place. The name or title "Sertor" on the base is odd. I shook the internets but didn't come up with much, other than it's an uncommon Latin praenomen that may have been derived the word "servitor," servant. Has anyone ever run across a representation of St. Peter so titled, or a scriptural passage that alludes to it?

The seller thinks it's a reproduction, but part of my gut wonders why someone would bother to reproduce such an obscure, humble little artifact. I got it for a song, well worth taking the chance that it's genuine; and if not, it'll look neat on my shelf anyway. I reckon I'll know more when it comes in the mail.

Klaus

It looks Romanesque to me. I think it is worth having it appraised.

I'd have bought it.

My father is an art dealer and he agrees, Romanesque and possibly a treasure. He pointed out that the flat back and the weathered condition suggest a figure in an exterior niche. It might have been part of a larger composition, such as the attached example of Christ and the apostles.

I don't think it is worth tons, lots of small pieces are inexpensive at Sotheby's and Christy's auctions, but I don't think I'd really care what the dollar amount actually is if it is real.

Yep.

I know someone who bought a Roman silver hairpin on ebay for a song.