Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A cast 99.5% silver ceremonial ladle with a long handle that ends in the head of a bird - either a duck, a swan, or a goose - the avian eyes and plumage nicely incised and its beak and frill of neck feathers very well defined. The long handle is also decorated with two incised linear striations running along its length, and the hemispheric bowl presents with a scalloped border along its exterior walls just below the rim. In ancient Rome, the ladle - called a simpulum or simpuvium - was used in the preparation and serving of ceremonial libations. This special form - with a round bowl and a handle ending in the head of a duck - was an enduring tradition, extending from the Greeks and Etruscans to the Romans. Size: 2.5" Diameter x 7.375" H (6.4 cm x 18.7 cm); 9" H (22.9 cm) on included custom stand; silver quality: 99.5%; total weight: 126.1 grams
Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010
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#157221
Condition
Minor indentations to the bowl. The handle presents with slight waviness. Expected surface wear with minor scratches commensurate with age. Otherwise, a fabulous form with vivid details and wonderful patina.