Description:

Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A cast bronze ceremonial ladle with a round, deep bowl and a long handle that curves downward near its end and diverges into two terminals with an avian form. The bowl has deep impressions around its body, giving it a scalloped appearance. Size: 2.75" W x 13.95" H (7 cm x 35.4 cm); 14.2" H (36.1 cm) on included custom stand.

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. It was also more generally just a utensil, shown in banqueting scenes on Greek and Italian vases aiding in the distribution of wine into cups. The hooked end of the handle is shown in a scene from an Etruscan tomb being held by a slave and used to hang the utensil from the side of a large wine vessel. The style of this example - with the round bowl and the bifurcated handle ending in animal heads - was common in the Classical world.

Provenance: private Orange County, California, USA collection, acquired before 2000

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#131002

  • Condition: Repaired/restored at center of handle; this is well done and difficult to see. Mottled dark green patina over surface. Encrustations, especially on the inside of the body. Very nice preservation of form.

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March 15, 2018 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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