Mouse
Unknown Artist
1–200 CE
Medium
bronze
Dimensions
1.4 × 1.6 cm, l. 4.3 cm
Classification
Sculpture
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Keith P. Smith
Accession Number
1985.177
About this artwork
The Romans were the first people in antiquity to make large numbers of genre sculptures for no purpose other than household decoration. This mouse may have been just such a knick-knack or it may have ornamented a metal food container laying claim to its contents so that other mice would stay away.