Dr Pat Witts
@wittspat.bsky.social
Specialist in Roman mosaics, with particular interests in iconography and antiquarian illustrations; also hedgehogs in any medium. Author. Membership Secretary asprom.org (posting personally).
I'm wondering whether "buy" is wholly appropriate here ...
November 27, 2025 at 3:26 PM
I'm wondering whether "buy" is wholly appropriate here ...
And where did the Louvre get them from ... ?
November 26, 2025 at 8:24 PM
And where did the Louvre get them from ... ?
Yes, I'm inclined to agree with your conclusion. They seemed to like sculpture with mismatched head and body! Maybe gullible and mis-sold? There are also 'baths' which are probably plain sarcophagi. And items sometimes went overseas, eg the Badminton sarcophagus.
November 26, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Yes, I'm inclined to agree with your conclusion. They seemed to like sculpture with mismatched head and body! Maybe gullible and mis-sold? There are also 'baths' which are probably plain sarcophagi. And items sometimes went overseas, eg the Badminton sarcophagus.
Thanks! I shall make a special trip. (Comment in brackets is a bit harsh! It's recognisably a hedgehog. 🦔)
November 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Thanks! I shall make a special trip. (Comment in brackets is a bit harsh! It's recognisably a hedgehog. 🦔)
It is! It was a fabulous exhibition full of extraordinary things.
November 25, 2025 at 10:42 PM
It is! It was a fabulous exhibition full of extraordinary things.
Which establishment purveys this amazing product? (Need it for my hedgehog ephemera collection. Delightful. 🤩)
November 25, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Which establishment purveys this amazing product? (Need it for my hedgehog ephemera collection. Delightful. 🤩)
I'm pondering whether the problem is that they only have historians as talking heads, not visual/material culture people who could keep them on the right track. (Haven't finished watching yet, though. Maybe it improves?!)
November 25, 2025 at 10:35 PM
I'm pondering whether the problem is that they only have historians as talking heads, not visual/material culture people who could keep them on the right track. (Haven't finished watching yet, though. Maybe it improves?!)
That cap reminds me of the astonishing Scythian felt swan seen in an exhibition at the BM a while ago. Presumably no link, though this is equally dramatic in its swan-like way.
November 25, 2025 at 10:32 PM
That cap reminds me of the astonishing Scythian felt swan seen in an exhibition at the BM a while ago. Presumably no link, though this is equally dramatic in its swan-like way.
Striking, and skilfully done, but I can't help wondering why Caledonia is cradling a pile of Swiss rolls ...
November 25, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Striking, and skilfully done, but I can't help wondering why Caledonia is cradling a pile of Swiss rolls ...
That's rather lovely.
November 25, 2025 at 8:39 PM
That's rather lovely.
Really?! Not equine to me ... You've been champing at too many chamfrons.
November 25, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Really?! Not equine to me ... You've been champing at too many chamfrons.
Started watching on catch-up. Came here to see if it's just me ... Relieved to read the comments here. Can I bear to finish watching? Maybe in small doses, to match the sound bites.
November 25, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Started watching on catch-up. Came here to see if it's just me ... Relieved to read the comments here. Can I bear to finish watching? Maybe in small doses, to match the sound bites.
Useful to know these terms! (Possibly more useful than the programme ...?)
November 25, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Useful to know these terms! (Possibly more useful than the programme ...?)
Deeley-boppers: wonderful! Glad you enjoyed the article.
November 25, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Deeley-boppers: wonderful! Glad you enjoyed the article.
The major Corpus of RB mosaics by David Neal and Steve Cosh is firm in saying that antlers are a misidentification and that the identification of Cernunnos is 'erroneous' (Vol III, Part 2, p327). Do pass this feedback on! 2/2
November 25, 2025 at 9:13 AM
The major Corpus of RB mosaics by David Neal and Steve Cosh is firm in saying that antlers are a misidentification and that the identification of Cernunnos is 'erroneous' (Vol III, Part 2, p327). Do pass this feedback on! 2/2
Thanks. The Cernunnos idea goes back a number of decades and hasn't been accepted by mosaic specialists. It might be an interesting point in a gallery talk, to get visitors looking closely, but I'd argue it's rather misleading in a caption. 1/2
November 25, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Thanks. The Cernunnos idea goes back a number of decades and hasn't been accepted by mosaic specialists. It might be an interesting point in a gallery talk, to get visitors looking closely, but I'd argue it's rather misleading in a caption. 1/2
On the other hand, the shorter, thicker, protrusion with curves on the edges is consistent with crustaceans. More examples in other provinces than in RB. Curious to know what the museum says in its caption? I must revisit before too long! 2/2
November 24, 2025 at 10:18 PM
On the other hand, the shorter, thicker, protrusion with curves on the edges is consistent with crustaceans. More examples in other provinces than in RB. Curious to know what the museum says in its caption? I must revisit before too long! 2/2
Yes, I'm aware that the antler idea has been coming up at the museum for years! If they were antlers, I'd expect one main, thinner, protrusion with branches coming off. I don't know of any parallels for antlers drawn like this. 1/2
November 24, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Yes, I'm aware that the antler idea has been coming up at the museum for years! If they were antlers, I'd expect one main, thinner, protrusion with branches coming off. I don't know of any parallels for antlers drawn like this. 1/2
Not immediately ringing any bells with me, but hope you both surface something from your memories.
November 24, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Not immediately ringing any bells with me, but hope you both surface something from your memories.
I think the British mosaicists did rather well, all things considered ...
November 24, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I think the British mosaicists did rather well, all things considered ...
Glad you enjoyed it. I think an indigenous god is unlikely because, if you had a mosaic, you were showing off how Roman you were. And the things sticking up aren't, in my view, horns but crustacean claws. It's an unusual mosaic, though.
November 24, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Glad you enjoyed it. I think an indigenous god is unlikely because, if you had a mosaic, you were showing off how Roman you were. And the things sticking up aren't, in my view, horns but crustacean claws. It's an unusual mosaic, though.
That's an accurate answer applicable to all of us. 😁
November 24, 2025 at 8:00 PM
That's an accurate answer applicable to all of us. 😁