Roman, early Imperial Period, ca. 1st century CE. A tall, cast-bronze oinochoe (pouring vessel) with a concentric ring base, a bulbous body, and a rounded shoulder which gracefully tapers to a short, cylindrical neck. The neck broadens into a wide, pinched trefoil spout with a large, lip-like rim that hangs down in a manner that looks almost organic. A delicate, leaf-patterned handle rises from the lower body to the mouth. A mask-like face of a youth wearing a zoomorphic headdress forms an attachment at the base of the handle. The texture of the handle forms a strong contrast to the smooth body of the rest of the vessel. The deep turquoise color of this piece's patina gives it an incredible archaeological surface. Size: 4.5" W x 8.2" H (11.4 cm x 20.8 cm).
A stylistically similar example, of a larger form and without a trefoil spout, hammered for $18,000 at Christie's, New York "Antiquities" auction (sale 1846, June 8, 2007, lot 154).
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Artemis Gallery; ex-private Orange County, California, USA collection, acquired before 2000
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#149765
Condition
Restoration to front spout lip, with resurfacing and overpainting along new material and break lines. Minor nicks and fissures along rim, body, and base, with light encrustations. Beautiful deep turquoise encrusted patina throughout.