From the Iron Age, handless and footless bronze bowls, with a shallow calotte-shape and a small omphalos (a Greek word referring to a raised central point), framed by either an incised or a raised rosette, have been widely discovered in Assyria, Cyprus, Mainland Greece and Etruria. In Greek times, such bronze bowls, sometimes with elaborately decorated figural and zoomorphic ornaments, are known as ‘phiale mesomphalos’. They are believed to have been used as a cremation container or a dedicatory offering in ancient Greece, in accordance with Homer’s literature. However, bronze bowls with a central omphalos and rosette had a very clear Near Eastern origin. Differentiating from their Greek counterparts, bronze bowls of this type might have been an elite object in Assyria, and were probably used by royals and aristocrats for daily purposes.
Assyrian Bronze Bowl with a Relief Rosette
$3,133.66
An Assyrian finely cast hemispherical bronze bowl with a shallow calotte-shape. The bowl features a flat base and a moulded rim. Its slightly convex walls render an elegant continuously curved profile. The interior base features a raised rosette from which a small, cylindrical protrusion rises. The rosette, comprising wide, even petals is framed by an encircling pattern. Parts of the interior and exterior surface are clear of patination and have a beautiful polished finish.
Diameter: 18.5 cm
Condition: Very fine condition. Parts of the bowl are covered with attractively lustrous patina.
In stock
| Weight | 526.8 g |
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| Dimensions | W 18.5 x H 6.8 cm |
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