Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 2nd century CE. A handsome cast bronze patera, a rare find as the handle and bowl of such vessels are more often found separately. This is a complete vessel with a characteristically shallow, round bowl which has a slightly convex tondo (representing an omphalos) encircled by a raised border and a flanged, rounded rim. The handle is fluted, resembling a horizontal column, and terminates in a zoomorphic head with a long muzzle and laid back ears. The patera stands on a ringed foot with multiple rings of concentric circles cast on its underside. Size: 12.125" L (including handle) x 7.75" bowl in diameter (30.8 cm x 19.7 cm)
In ancient times, a patera would have been used to serve food and drink at symposia/dinner parties or as is an offering dish to pour libations of wine and other liquids at religious ceremonies. An example like this one, with such high quality bronze and an ornate zoomorphic head finial, was most likely used in rituals.
A similar patera sold at Christie's New York on December 13, 2013 for $7500 (Sale 2755, Lot 141) - https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/a-roman-bronze-patera-circa-1st-2nd-century-5747602-details.aspx
See a comparable example in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1989.281.87) - https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/255965
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-William Froelich collection, New York, USA, collected in the 1970s
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#144088
Condition
Surface wear and minor indentations commensurate with age. Still rare to find handle still attached to bowl and beautiful blue-green patina has developed over time.