Lot 953

Description

Cup with stem foot. The foot plate of 4.6 cm diameter, lathed and provided with turning grooves on the upper side and bottom. The border flared diagonally downwards, forming a ring foot. The 2.5 cm high foot, 1.2 cm wide at the stem in the centre, soldered at the upper end with a small, conical disc of 2.5 cm diameter to the body of the vessel. Below, an egg-shaped belly 5.7 cm high, transitioning at the shoulder after an obtuse-angled break into a hollow moulding of 2 cm height. Above this, the 1.9 cm high border, likewise concave and finishing at top and bottom with a bead delimited by incised lines. The thus elegantly profiled cup is furnished with two opposing handles on the sides. The handles covered at the top by an externally tongue-shaped, 1.5 mm thick and internally forked grip plate, which transitions on both sides towards the vessel's border into a volute and then into a stylised bird's head with a long beak. The round inner side of the forked grip plate soldered to the mouth along its entire length. Below the grip plate an open ring, soldered between the grip plate and an upwardly curved tongue, which is likewise attached by soldering from a leaf-shaped attachment at the upper border of the belly in front of the concave shoulder. Total height 11.5 cm. Diameter from grip plate end to grip plate end 16 cm. Plain drinking vessel of precious metal with smooth surface of classical elegance. The surface lightly and patchily toned. A perfectly intact, undeformed kantharos of the early to high Roman Imperial period in exceptionally fine and perfect condition. CULTURAL ASSET!

Provenance: Belgian private collection; acquired from the British private collection of D.L. shortly after 2000. Acquired from D.L. in 1984 at a London gallery; previously in the British collection of A.N. (assembled in the 1960s–1980s).

Condition: I - Questions about the lot?