A PHOENICIAN BRONZE PHIALE MESOMPHALOS

CIRCA 7TH CENTURY B.C.

Details

A PHOENICIAN BRONZE PHIALE MESOMPHALOS
CIRCA 7TH CENTURY B.C.
The hammered bowl with concentric repoussé decoration, including rows of ridged drop-shaped bosses, petals and punched circles, a petalled rosette around the central boss, a frieze between embossed and engraved with animals and archers, including an archer pursuing a goat, a kneeling bearded figure between a goat and a reclining saddled camel, an archer aiming at a goat, and a monkey raised on its hindquarters, separated by two trunkless palmettes
8¼ in. (21 cm.) diameter

Provenance

Acquired by the owner in 1999.

Lot Essay

The present example belongs to a class of decorated bowls that were widely diffused in antiquity and have been found as far east as Assyria and as far west as Etruria. They are usually attributed to Phoenician craftsmanship and may have been manufactured in workshops abroad. Several examples have been found in Cyprus and it has been suggested that their production was centered there. For related examples and more on the subject see p. 436ff. in Moscati, The Phoencians and p. 180ff. in Karageorghis, et al., Ancient Art from Cyprus, The Cesnola Collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Special thanks to Julia Jarrett for the drawing.

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