Roman Bronze Ram Headed Patera Handle

$151.56

An ancient Roman patera handle, the finial of which is decorated with a ram’s head. The ram’s head features distinctive spiral horns and ears, eyes, and mouth.

Date: Circa 1st - 3rd Century AD
Condition: Fine condition with a dark patinaton. Signs of ageing and use visible on the surface.

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A patera was a broad and shallow dish or bowl, mostly produced in bronze, and often used as a sacred libation vessel. The ram’s head finial could allude to the ritual function of the object, as the ram was a favoured sacrificial victim at Roman festivals. As well as the religious, the patera was also used in the domestic sphere.

For more information about the meanings of animals in Roman art, see our relevant blog post: Animal Symbolism in Roman Art.

 

Weight 16 g
Dimensions L 5 cm
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