LOT 0104

Roman Bronze Patera with Maker's Mark for Licinius

1ST-2ND CENTURY A.D.

7 3/4 in. (242 grams, 19.5 cm).

With drum-shaped bowl and thick rim developing to a short handle with pierced lobe finial; stamped to the upper face of the handle with maker's name '[.]OIYBI'; to the underside of the base, pointillé legend 'LICINI[...]V'.

Acquired from Munich and London, 1990s.
From the collection of a London, UK, gentleman.

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 a search certificate number no.12064-217904.

Cf. Tassinari, S., La vaiselle de bronze, Romaine et Provinciale, au musée des antiquités nationales, Paris, 1975, figs.3,5,6,7,8,9, for similar vessels; Boucher, S. & Tassinari, S., Musée de la Civilisation Gallo-Romaine a Lyon: Bronzes Antiques I. Inscriptions, Statuaire, Vaisselle, Lyon, 1976, item 360, for type; Boucher, S. and Tassinari, S., Bronzes Antiques I, Inscriptions, Statuaire, Vaisselle, Paris, 1976, p.117, no.132, for similar; cf. also The British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme, record id. GLO-048BB1, for a very similar example and additional information; see also Nico, V., La tavola degli Antichi, Milano, 1989, for discussion on these vessels.

The owner of the patera seems to be a certain Licinius. In contrast to more 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.