A Continental sculpted limestone group of Mercury and a cockerel, circle of Ignatius van Logteren (Dutch 1685 ~ 1732) and after Michel Anguier (French 1612 ~ 1686), 18th century, the god portrayed standing and 'heroically nude' but for drapery around his midriff, the petasus helmet worn back on his head, the cockerel beside him on the rectangular section base, 194cm high, 46cm wide, 42cm deep, on a limestone square section plinth, of spreading form, 105cm high, 90cm square Bidders from the UK and outside of the European Union should be aware that additional import charges may apply Mercury, usually recognisable by his petasus, caduceus and winged sandals was, other than his chief role as messenger of the gods, also associated with trade and commerce. He was also the patron god of financial gain, eloquence (and thus poetry), messages/communication (including divination), travellers, boundaries, luck, trickery and thieves as well as being the guide of souls to Hades. In this group his association with a cockerel marks him as the Herald of the New Day, and he was similarly portrayed by the Flemish sculptor Artus Quellinus, and by the Dutch artist Hendrik Goltzius in a work of 1611