Description:

Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A gorgeous example of a cast bronze ceremonial ladle with a round bowl and a long handle. The ladle - a simpulum or simpuvium - was used to make libations and to taste wines and liquors that were poured on the heads of sacrificial victims. The handle has a finial in the form of a gazelle's head, with a wide eye and striated bronze forming its antlers. The rim has two upwardly-curved flourishes, one on either side. The gazelle is an interesting and rare animal to see depicted in Roman art, and appears more often in Egyptian art, where the animals were hunted and sometimes kept in royal game reserves - perhaps an influence of this piece's creator. Size: 2.4" W x 9" H (6.1 cm x 22.9 cm)

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

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#133402

  • Condition: Dark, mottled patina. What appears to be an ancient repair inside of bowl.

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May 10, 2018 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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