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LOT 0124
Roman Silver Spoon Property of the God Faunus Cranus
4TH CENTURY A.D.
3 1/2 in. (32 grams, 91 mm).
Shallow oval bowl with a coiled handle and a duck or swan head facing outwards, Latin inscription 'DEIFAVNI CRANI', '(Property) of the god Faunus Cranus’.
ProvenanceUK private collection, 1990s.
with Artemission, London, UK.
Private collection, London, UK.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Cf. The British Museum, 1981,0201.54 and 1981,0201.58; for inscription 1981,0201.74.
FootnotesProfessor Dr phil. Peter Rothenhöfer writes: 'In RIB the inscription is categorized as 'religious dedication'; this must be rejected as we would expect the Dative case: deo Fauno ... - for the god Faunus ... But we read the genitive case: dei Fauni Crani: (property of) the God Faunus Cranus. This indicates that all these spoons were used (or intended to be used) during religious ceremonies (connected with meals) probably in a sanctuary of Faunus Cranus. The use of deus (= god) and the Celtic epitheton Cranus indicates a provincial cult with strong indigenous elements.'
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