Figurines Data

ID	1003
Images
Grid Ref	TL9925
Project type	Excavation
County	Essex
Site	Colchester
Site Name	Gilberd School, North Hill
Site Type	Colonia
Location Type	Insula 17a
Context	topsoil
Context Quality	2
Site Date	C1-4
Context Date	post-Roman
Object Period	0
Material	Bronze
Other finds from site	Pipeclay ?Dea Nutrix
Location	Colchester Castle Museum
Ref No	COLEM 1988.44.157
Form	Figurine
Type	Bird
Name	Cockerel
Bearded	No
Standing/Seated	Standing
Is an attribute of	Mercury
Clothed	No
Drapery	No
Condition	Good, slightly worn.
Classical	1
Quality	Stylised 1
Photo	Yes
Illustration	Yes
Height	33.00
Length	0.00
Parallels	Chelmsford (386), Great Canfield (638)
References	Crummy 1992b, 240, fig. 6.41 no 383 [Link to Bibliography]
Description	\'crude workmanship, the features having been cut into cold metal. The two sides of the bird's head and comb differ markedly in design. The eyes are simple punched holes. The cuts on the short wings to indicate feathers are also different on each side. The bird is standing with head and tail raised well above the body as if the bird were crowing. The legs of the figurine, with the toes crudely suggested, stand on a rectangular base, the underside of which is not flat. Even were it so, the bird would be unable to stand as its weight is unevenly distributed, with the centre of gravity forward of the legs. The plinth was probably therefore fixed to a plinth' (Crummy).