1st-2nd century AD. A group of four marble fingers from at least three different statues,prising: two thumbs, one little finger and a possible index or middle finger, good rendering of details. See for similar a hand in the MET, accession number: 28.57.14. 150 grams total, 32-54mm wide (1 1/4 - 2"). North London gentleman, in storage since the 1970s. Property of a West London gentleman. Roman art placed a lot of importance on hand gestures. In Imperial statues, an emperor could be represented in the gesture of adlocutio (speech), lecturing the troops with his right arm bent and his index finger pointed. Extending the index and middle finger corresponded to a gesture of power, and this iconography translated into Christian art with the blessing gesture of Christ – the middle and forefinger extended together. [4, No Reserve]