This figurine is a vintage Neoclassical-style reproduction depicting an ancient Roman gladiator or soldier driving a biga (a two-horse chariot).
A Roman soldier or centurion stands inside a decorated chariot, gripping a set of string or cord reins. He wears a classic Galea (crested Roman helmet), moulded armor cuirass, and a billowing cape. The chariot is drawn by two rearing horses straining forward in a highly dynamic, spirited pose.
The chariot wheel features heavy spoke texturing, and the side panels of the cart are adorned with relief carvings resembling Roman scrollwork and foliage. The entire sculpture rests on a cast, rectangular base modelled to look like a stone-paved Roman road.
The figurine is made from cast alabaster resin (sometimes referred to as "faux alabaster" or "bonded marble"). This is a compound created by mixing crushed alabaster or marble dust with a resin polymer. It gives the piece a dense, heavy, cold-to-the-touch stone feel with a matte, cream-to-light-ivory colour finish.
Origin and Context
These specific styles of moulded resin-stone sculptures were massively popular as travel souvenirs, library décor, and Grand Tour replicas produced in Europe—primarily Italy and Greece—from the 1960s through the 1980s.
While many were anonymous souvenir pieces, high-quality versions of this exact subject matter were produced by famous mid-century Italian studios such as A. Santini (Amilcare Santini), Gino Ruggeri, and Auro Belcari. These studios specialized in recreating classical Roman and Greek antiquities using regional Tuscan alabaster composite mixtures.
The design is directly inspired by classical Roman antiquities and heavily influenced by the 20th-century cinematic resurgence of Roman epics, most notably mimicking the iconic chariot race imagery from movies like Ben-Hur.
Condition
The rectangular base shows visible chips and brown discoloration spots along the lower lip. Exposed resin/composite core reduces the item to "Fair" or "Good" vintage condition rather than "Mint."
The thin white cotton string functioning as the horses' reins is a homemade replacement. The original reins were usually thin, twisted metallic wire or leather-imitation cord; having a loose string instead diminishes the visual appeal slightly.
Height: 22 cm, Length: 27 cm, Width at base: 9 cm
