Roman box / manhole in sterling silver with SPQR writing

This small 925 silver sculpture, made by the artist Foscolo Benedetti, was born from the observation of the many cast iron manhole covers in Rome; in this case the manhole has been transformed into a box, a "functional" object. This particular type of manhole, with the inscription SPQR (from the Latin Senatvs PopvlvsQve Romanvs - the Senate and the Roman People, together initials and symbol of the royal age: the Senate and the people, i.e. the two classes of patricians and plebeians who were at the foundation of the Roman state) and 8 slits that collect rainwater bringing it into the underground sewers, is located in Villa Borghese. The life of the "Roman sewer" has always been difficult and tiring: still in 1951 acetylene lamps were used and the sewers were ..... full of rats! In this case, a small sculptural work expresses the need to preserve and pass on the culture of the "small" and of what for man is daily life!