1st-3rd century A.D. A life-size bronze statue fragment representing the tip and part of the length of a thumb, roughly theplete distal phalanx with cuticle and clearly defined nail and most of the middle phalanx. Cf. similar piece in PAS no.KENT-E4EC2C. 58 grams, 51 mm (2 in.). Found Rodings, Essex, UK. For the Greeks and Romans, bronze was the preferred material for dedicatory sculpture. It was used to create figures in elaborate poses due to its high tensile strength. Life-sized statues were usually fashioned using the lost-wax casting technique, with multiple sections soldered together to create a single artwork. [No Reserve]