Roman Bronze Baboon Statuette

Comprising a broad carinated bowl with central hole and hatching to the rim, stepped stem and flared base with rolled rim. 401 grams, 13.1 cm wide



Acquired on the UK art market. Property of a Ruislip, UK, gentleman, by inheritance.

Maybe a vessel used for the holy libations, as could be deduced from the central aperture. The Romans had adopted the Etruscan rituals for the sacred libations called aisna or eisna, and they essentially consisted of prayers and offerings. Most of the offerings took place during the morning (thesan), and vacl thesnin was the 'morning libation'. The practice included a threefold offering, to heaven, earth and the gods.

With a deep bowl and flat-section handle with integral loop; shallow concentric grooves around the exterior of the neck, rolled rim, concentric rings to the underside; finished on a lathe; cracked and split. 903 grams, 33 cm wide



Acquired in Europe before 1993. Private collection, Europe. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11788-206494.

In contrast to their elaborate counterparts, paterae such as this were likely carried as part of the standard kit of Roman soldiers, used as a general cooking and eating utensil. The regular heap up (sarcina) of the legionaries is well represented on the reliefs of the Trajan column. It was composed of a T stake (furca), to which a linen bag (sacculus) was hung, as well as the leather haversack for 15-20 days supplies (trinum nundinum) and personal effects, a pot (ollula), a cup (patera), and a basket for work on the fields.

Twisted in dark green colour with a black spiral band within, flattened plaque. 23.8 grams, 78 mm wide



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.