Wolf’s head amulet

Metal figures were popular in the Roman world, often as votive items. This amulet had belonged to Lieutenant Colonel Montague who collected over 800 classical archaeological objects, which he bequeathed to the museum on his death. He had bought the figure from Harold Clemens, himself a collector of curios. Mr Clemens set up ‘The Fir Tree Hotel Museum of Egyptian, Greek and Roman Antiquities’ in his public house and bed and breakfast establishment in Woburn Sands, Buckinghamshire. He set himself up as ‘Curator’ and advertised curios and other items from his ‘small museum’ in the popular Bazaar, Exchange and Mart. journal. His timing was good, Tutankhamun’s tomb had just been discovered, and there was a great interest in the occult and spiritualism, leading to considerable popularity of his endeavour. However it must be admitted that not all of his artefacts were genuine, some having been manufactured for the tourist and collectors markets.

Object Summary

Accession Loan No.
5/1946/732
Category
Antiquities
Collection Class
Foreign archaeology
Collector Excavator
Montague, LAD, Lieutenant Colonel
Material
gilt bronzecopper alloy
Common Name
wolf’s head amulet
Simple Name
amulet
Period Classification
Roman Imperial - 31 BC-476 AD

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amulet in the form of a wolf’s head