Roman Bronze Oinochoe with Lion Protome

1ST CENTURY B.C.-1ST CENTURY A.D.

8 7/8 in. (797 grams, 22.5 cm high).

The conical body decorated with overlapping petal-shaped panels, tapering neck with a wide spout, high arching handle with acanthus leaves, bust of a youthful male with long hair below (possibly Bacchus) the upper part terminating with a lion protome with the extended forelegs resting on the rim of the vessel, the high flaring foot possibly added later.

Provenance

Private collection, Rosenheim, Germany, 1960s.

Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11734-201200.

Literature

Cf. similar oinochoe in Sotheby’s, Antiquities and Islamic Art, New York, 12 December 1997, New York, 1997, lot 133; Tassinari, S., La vaiselle de bronze, Romaine et Provinciale, au musée des antiquités nationales, Paris, 1975, figs.152-153, for similar typologies with different decoration; cf. also Radnoti, A., ‘Eine Bronzekanne aus Augsburg’ in Bayerische Vorgeschichtblätter, 25, 1960, pp.99-124, and pl.7; Nuber, H.U., Kanne und Griffschale, Ihr Gebrauch im täglichen Leben und die Beigabe in Gräbern der römischen Kaiserzeit in 53.Bericht des Römisch-germanischen Kommission, Berlin, 1972.

Footnotes

Considering the primary function of oinochoe as drinking jugs, the images decorating them were often related to the god of wine, Bacchus, here probably represented as young Dionysus accompanied by a lion.

CONDITION

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LOT 0074