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I purchased this bronze over thirty years ago and was told at the time that it represented Ler or Llyr the Celtic god of the sea. Since then I have become more confused as the Celts seem to have had many aquatic deities. The bronze represents a deity of the sea, reclining on the back of a mythical creature. The lower part of the deity resembles a snail shell, while the upper part is human and is possibly female. The hair is gathered into a bun on the back of the head, the right arm rests along the body and the left is around the neck of the beast. The beast appears to have flippers and its coat is well defined with incision. The composition appears to have been perhaps a handle or an ornament on a vessel. Nice green patina with a small amount of corrosion. Length 5.7cm [2 ¼’], height 4.2cm [25/8”] 1st cent BC-1st cent. AD. There is a similar item in Mills, Celtic and Roman Artifacts, [#446] the figure shown there is reclining but is not on an animal
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