Miniature bronze statuette of Venus Genetrix

The statuette of Venus

This miniature statuette is a meticulously crafted replica of a Venus Genetrix figure from the collections of the Louvre in Paris. It was cast in our own workshop using the traditional lost-wax casting method (cire perdue) from solid bronze – a process that was already used in antiquity and is still regarded today as the pinnacle of casting artistry. After casting, each statuette is finished and polished by hand, making every piece a unique individual.

The statuette is a dainty 5 cm tall and crafted from genuine, solid bronze – no resin, no pewter, no low-quality alloy. It feels substantial in the hand, and the surface has the characteristic warm lustre of hand-polished bronze. Despite its small size, details such as facial features, the drape of the clothing and even the small hand mirror are finely crafted.

The size of this statuette has been deliberately chosen to match the scale of ancient travel shrines. An outstanding example of such private domestic shrines is the travel shrine from Comacchio, which has survived as a complete ensemble comprising the shrine, statues of deities and ritual objects – a unique testament to ancient life. We also offer a faithful replica of this temple in our range. As a cult image, the Venus Genetrix fits seamlessly into this ensemble. For those wishing to complete the set: a matching Cupid statuette in the same style and scale is also available from us – just as in the historical model from Comacchio, where mother and son were worshipped together.

Venus – Goddess of Love and the Sea

Venus (Greek: Aphrodite) is one of the oldest and most widely worshipped deities of the ancient world. As the Roman goddess of love, beauty and fertility, she was far more than a mere personification of attraction – she was regarded as a primal cosmic force that ruled over gods and mortals alike. The myth of her birth describes how she rose from the sea foam that had formed around the limbs of Uranus, which had been cast into the sea. This image of the goddess rising from the waves shaped ancient iconography for centuries and lives on to this day in works such as Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus”.

Her connection to the sea also made Venus the patron goddess of sailors. Under the epithets Venus Marina and Venus Euploia, she was invoked by merchants and sailors who prayed for safe voyages. The animals associated with her – foremost among them the dove and the dolphin, but also the hare as a symbol of fertility and the swallow – are frequently depicted in her company in ancient representations and votive offerings.

As the mother of Cupid, the winged god of love, Venus also embodies the creative power of love itself. Yet none of her manifestations was more significant in the political and religious life of Rome than Venus Genetrix – the ‘creative’, ‘ancestral’ Venus. Julius Caesar claimed direct descent from her for his family, the gens Iulia, and had a magnificent temple built in her honour on the Forum Iulium in Rome. Following his victory at Pharsalus in 48 BC, he consecrated the temple, thereby making Venus Genetrix the progenitor of Rome and the divine ancestor of the Julio-Claudian imperial house. She symbolised fertility, dynastic legitimacy and the eternal survival of the Roman people.

This artistic depiction of Venus Genetrix shows the goddess in a moment of intimacy typical of the ancient world: as she puts on her robe, holding a small hand mirror in her hand. This pose combines dignity with sensual grace, making the figure a key iconographic work of Roman sculpture.

Venus – A touch of ancient culture for your home

Whether you’re a passionate collector of history, want to bring it to life, or simply wish to hold an extraordinary piece in your hands – this statuette has its place:

• Lovers of ancient history and culture – You will receive a collector’s item showcasing genuine craftsmanship and a direct historical connection; not a mass-produced item, but a unique piece crafted by hand.
• Reenactment and Living History – Whether for your authentically decorated home altar, your Roman camp or your shrine: this statuette fits seamlessly into any reconstructed ancient setting, both stylistically and in terms of scale.
• School and Teaching – If you teach ancient religion, mythology or everyday Roman culture, you’ll know that an object in the pupils’ hands conveys more than any illustration in a textbook. The statuette is sturdy, easy to handle and almost explains itself when looked at.
• Museum education and educational institutions – For project days, interactive exhibitions and hands-on learning, authentic replicas made of solid bronze offer added value that no plastic model can match.
• As a gift – Are you looking for something special for someone who is passionate about antiquity, mythology or archaeology? The Goddess of Love makes an unusual and lasting gift – for an anniversary, a birthday or as a meaningful token of appreciation.