LOT 0173

Roman Bronze Basket-Vase

1ST-2ND CENTURY A.D.

11 in. (1.68 kg, 28 cm).

Ellipsoid in plan with low basal ring and thick convex rim, carination to the forward end; hinges to each lateral rim, the knuckles formed as addorsed duck-heads each with scrolled panel to the rear retaining the pivot of the ribbed D-shaped handles.

Acquired in Switzerland, 1996.
Private collection, Europe.

Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate dated 30th April 2004.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12363-226688.

Cf. a similar model from the House of Menander in Pompei is preserved in the Pompei Archaeological Museum; see Tassinari, S., La Vaisselle de bronze, Romaine et provincial, au muse des Antiquités Nationales, Paris, 1975, no.104, for examples of Roman trays.

This vessel (lanx) was part of Roman and provincial bronze instrumentum domesticum, i.e. culinary or domestic utility ware. The form of the bowl resembles a type of helmet with carination to the front, the handles placed as hinged cheek-protectors.