VesselsGreek5th century BCE

Patera Handle

early 5th century BCE

Description

The palmette attachment plate is incised on the back only (the front face is plain where it would have connected with a patera bowl). The incisions represent two downward-curving volutes, a central diamond, and lines to separate the leaves. The palmette curves to accommodate the bowl. The section it is joined to, with the curved rim and two rams, is otherwise flat and completely featureless on the back. On the front, the rim has a raised band along the edge and ends in semi-circular volute-like knobs. There is a bar descending from the center of the rim to the tails of the rams and the top of the youth’s head. The two recumbent rams are back-to-back with tails touching. Each is shown in profile, with relatively few details. Three of four legs are visible; there are raised areas for the eyes and tops of the noses, a backward-curling horn around the ear, and a short straight tail, rendered fairly naturalistically. The youth stands frontally with feet together and hands held upward behind the rams. The palms of his hands are pressed flat against the flat backs of the rams, with thumbs splayed and incisions to mark the separation of the fingers. Sections of the hair are modeled. No ears are visible under the block-like hair. The youth’s face is Archaic, with the typical smile; the eyes are large, the nose is small and pointed, and the chin is round. The neck appears very thick with the hair right behind it. The arms are upraised at right angles. The musculature is naturalistic overall, but it is not highly developed and has few details. There are two voids between the legs of the youth, although there is a section of metal joining the legs at the calves. The toes of the youth are pointed and side-by-side, and incisions indicating toes are visible on the right foot. The bottom of the handle has a representation of a downward-facing ram’s head with a curving horn on either side, emerging from the youth’s feet. The back of the youth is modeled, with long hair rendered schematically in a block, while the muscles of the back, buttocks, and legs appear more natural. The heels of the feet are difficult to see. There is a hollowed area between the feet on the back, with some discolored remains, which may have been used to suspend the patera by the handle when not in use.

Classification

Vessels

Technique

Cast, lost-wax process

Medium

Leaded bronze

Culture

Greek

Period

Archaic period, Late, to Early Classical

Century

5th century BCE

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art & Numismatics

Dimensions

22.3 x 10.2 cm (8 3/4 x 4 in.)

Provenance

[Munzen und Medaillen A. G., Basel, Auction Sale 14, June 19, 1954, lot 24], sold; to David M. Robinson, Baltimore, MD, bequest; to Fogg Art Museum, 1960.