Description:

Greece, Hellenistic Period, ca. late 4th to 3rd century BCE. A delicate silver phiale, a special libation bowl used for holding wine, with a hollow, rounded, raised boss, known as an omphalos, in the center. The omphalos is thought to have symbolized the navel of the earth, the central point of power that all things revolved around. The bowl is bulbous on its lower two-thirds before abruptly flaring out to form a wide mouth. Size: 6" W x 1.4" H (15.2 cm x 3.6 cm); 142.4 grams

Libation bowls, known as phiale, were used across a wide geographical area - from Greece to Tibet, throughout the ancient Near East and Central Asia. These shallow bowls for holding wine in ritual and ceremonial settings were made from many materials - glass, ceramic, and many kinds of metal. Royal vessels were made of precious metals, like this one. They functioned both as tableware and as wealth - they could be stored in the royal treasury or given as gifts to people they were hoping to influence.

Provenance: private California, USA collection

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#135176

  • Condition: Dark patina on surface with some oxidized encrustation, notably on the exterior. Nice remaining form, with some light scratching on surface.

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July 5, 2018 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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