Roman Signifer bust - please help

[tonydawe]

I recently bought this bust from a friend on pF ,who acquired it on ebay.

I'd really like to know who the manufacturer is, and whether or not the bust is historically accurate.

C'mon all you Romaholics, please help me identify this mysterious bust.

 

[megroot]

Tony,
Maybe you have some more luck here:
http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/main.asp?webtag=medrenfig&nav=start&prettyurl=%2Fmedrenfig%2Fstart

 

[tonydawe]

Thanks Marc,

I've already posted the same question on the MedRom forum.

 

[Nap]

signifer

Hi Tony ,
I first thought it might have been the Seil bust , but its definately not , I have however seen this on e bay (I did infact get a Roman Centurion which looks to be by the same sculpter) ....... sorry I cannot be more helpful but I will keep looking as I think its a great bust/half figure

Nap

 

[Blind Pew]

Bonapartes rings a bell, I could be wrong though........

 

[Tecumsea]

It's by Bonapartes!

Keith

 

[tonydawe]

Kevin,Blind Pew and Keith,

Thanks guys. I've had a quick look on the Bonapartes website and couldn't find a photo of this bust. I'll keep looking.

 

[housecarl]

The only thing I know Tony is that it's now OOP, and was sculpted by Pete Morton.
Not much help,
Carl.

 

[Tecumsea]

Hi Tony,

This was part of an old Bonaparte range. Dave Freeman keeps talking about re-releasing them as he still has the masters but he is very preoccupied with his Napoleonic range these days so I'm not convinced it will ever happen.
Keith

 

[tonydawe]

Thanks Carl and Keith, I guess that answers my question.

 

[housecarl]

I found these Tony. I don't know if they're of any help.
Carl.

 

[tonydawe]

Cheers Carl,

Very useful indeed. Thank you.

 

[Guy]

The one I have on my shelf is in a Bonapartes labeled box.

 

[tonydawe]

Thanks Guy.

 

[Foxwood Figures]

Hello everyone,
This is in fact a new 200mm bust sculpted by Pete Morton for the newly formed Foxwood Figures in Somerset, England. This will be produced in limited numbers. For further information email [email protected]

 

[Harry]

I'd really like to know ... whether or not the bust is historically accurate.

He is wearing armour and equipment that most would traditionally identify as legionary, yet he is carrying the standard of one of the centuries of the Cohors V Asturum ("Fifth regiment of foot of Asturians"), a Spanish auxiliary infantry regiment. The standard is identical to the one carried by the signifer named Pintaius of that unit on his tombstone portrait, now in Bonn.

However, given that the "experts" still have handbag fights over whether or not legionaries and auxiliaries even had uniquely different equipment, I'd say that on certain grounds you could well argue that it's perfectly historically accurate. The reconstruction of the standard of the Fifth Asturians is especially well done.

The usual assertion is that auxiliary signiferi had the mask of their animal pelts removed, but the representation on Pintaius' portrait is equivocal on that question. There's a triangular area on his forehead that may or may not be the mask of his bearskin. The stone is too decayed to be absolutely sure.

His armour is different from that shown being worn by Pintaius, but you could argue that he's not Pintaius but perhaps a colleague, either of another century of the cohort, or a predecessor or successor. The evidence suggests that standards had a design particular to the unit, so, on that basis, you're restricted to finishing him as a signifer of the Fifth Asturians, sometime in the 1st or early 2nd century AD.

When it comes to painting, there's some evidence that people of that area of Spain traditionally wore black clothing in ancient times. There's some possibility that this might have been retained as a tradition by Asturian units in the Roman army.

 

[tonydawe]

Hi Harry,

Thanks for your detailed response. You've given me more specific information than I could have dreamed; right down to the actual name of the signifer. Knowing the unit's name and the area it comes from will definitely inform the painting process. Thanks.

 

[MCPWilk]

This was NOT from Bonapartes. The figure was sculpted by Pete Morton and is now with Foxwood Figures, who hope to rerelease it soon. For the other figures, please see: http://www.militarymodelling.com/albums/member_album.asp?a=15116. There is also a Murmillo gladiator in the range of three busts.

This bust has also been discussed/blogged on this site as well.

Happy painting,

Mike

 

[MCPWilk]

Previous blog at: http://www.planetfigure.com/forums/showthread.php?p=391215#post391215