A GREEK PARCEL GILT SILVER PATERA

LATE CLASSICAL TO EARLY HELLENISTIC PERIOD, CIRCA 4TH-EARLY 3RD CENTURY B.C.

Details

A GREEK PARCEL GILT SILVER PATERA
LATE CLASSICAL TO EARLY HELLENISTIC PERIOD, CIRCA 4TH-EARLY 3RD CENTURY B.C.
The shallow circular bowl of thick hammered sheet, the rim overhanging on the interior, on a thin ring base, centered by a finely-detailed gilt gorgoneion medallion in high relief, Medusa turned slightly to her left, wings emerging from the top of her wild wavy locks, her furrowed brow creased, with wrinkles at the outer corners of her eyes, the pupils dotted, her chin protruding, snakes tied in the characteristic knot below her chin, the gilt rim with beading and ovolo, the separately-made cylindrical handle joined to the exterior below the rim, in alignment with the proper right side of the gorgoneion, the trilobed catch-plate flanged, terminating in a separately-made gilt head of Medusa, her wings in her short wavy locks, with full cheeks, a rounded chin and dotted eyes
11½ in. (29.2 cm.) long; 1155.5 gr.

Provenance

Private Collection, Europe, 1970s.
Private Collection, Barcelona, 1990s.

Sale room notice

Please note addended provenance:
Private Collection, Europe, 1970s.
Private Collection, Barcelona, 1990s.

If you wish to view the condition report of this lot, please sign in to your account.

View condition report

Lot Essay

This form of patera is thought to have functioned ritually as a libation vessel. While extremely rare in silver, the shape survives more often in bronze, with a plethora of bronze patera handles surviving from the Greek and Roman periods. The shape is known in silver since at least the Late Classical period. See, for example, the silver patera with a ram head finial, no. 181-182 in Andronikos, Vergina, The Royal Tombs and the Ancient City.

More from Antiquities

View All