LOT 0107

Roman Bronze Vessel Handle with Face

1ST CENTURY A.D.

5 5/8 in. (110 grams, 14.2 cm).

Swept in profile, comprising a horizontal crescentic panel to attach to the rim, with inlaid silver detailing, recurved cobra-shaped thumb pad, raised serpent to the outer face of the tapering handle, finial a mask of Bacchus or Pan, facing with volute scrolls to the brow and thick splayed beard; silver diadem and eyes.

Private collection.
with Christie's, London, 11 June 1997, no.97 (part).
with Bonhams, 13 April 2000, no.198.
Private collection, Europe.

Accompanied by copies of the relevant Christie's and Bonhams catalogue pages.
Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12529-232161.

Cf. Rolland, H., Bronzes Antiques de Haute Provence, Paris, 1965, items 290-292, for similar, especially 291.

These handles, which formed a leafy plant element and an S- or T-shaped animal at the top, were usually attached to the belly of the bronze vessel by a human head. In our example, the broad head of the mask, with its broad moustache and beard, characterised by abundant hair, seems to hark back to the iconography of the Sileni or Pan.