Ancient Roman Bronze Patera Handle with Wolf

Roman Ancient Bronze Patera Handle of a Wolf

233.9g. and 108.2mm x 26.3mm

Purchased from B. Auctions, the Netherlands in October 2023

From a Private European Collection

An extremely fine and well preserved Ancient Roman cast bronze handle, once belonged to a patera. The handle is modelled in the shape of a column’s shaft, with marked flutes, and ending in a wolf’s head finial. The animal’s facial features have been finely and naturalistically moulded, with engraved details to the fur.

Across the Roman Empire, paterae would have used for serving food or drink at dinner parties or for pouring libations at religious ceremonies. Such vessels, usually cast in bronze and finely decorated and ornate, featured a broad and shallow dish or bowl and fluted handles modelled in the shape of ram’s and wolf’s heads. It is most usual for these paterae to have ram’s head terminals to the handles, while dog’s or wolf’s head terminals are much rarer. Wolf’s heads were common decorative motives used on bronze vessels, mounts and appliques, strictly liked to the he ancient legend of the founding of Rome and worshipped as sacred animals to Mars.

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