GANDHARA, CIRCA LATE 1ST CENTURY B.C. - EARLY 1ST CENTURY A.D.

Details

A silver footed bowl with mesomphalos
Gandhara, circa late 1st century B.C. - early 1st century A.D.
The shallow bowl centered by a separately made omphalos incised with concentric circles, with radiating fluting terminating in an incised line, on a low foot
8 5/8 in. (22.4 cm.) diameter

Provenance

Private Collection, England, prior to 1979

Literature

F. Baratte, East and West: A Central Asian Silver Hoard from the Parthian Era, 2002, p. 33-34, fig. 13-14

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Lot Essay

The shape of this bowl is informed by a Greek precedent, the phiale mesomphalos. Such ritual libation vessels are named for the central depression on the underside that rises up into the center, allowing the bowl to be held with the palm outstretched and the middle finger reaching into the depression. With its separately attached omphalos and low foot, this bowl clearly builds on the Greek model by favoring form over function.

For a closely related example, see A. Oliver, Jr., Silver for the Gods, 1977, p. 26-27, cat. no. 3.

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