CSAI

Collection of the objects from the European museums


By kind permission of British Museum

DEPOSIT INFORMATION

DepositLondon, The British Museum, BM 102478=1907,1012.3
NotesPurchased from Charles Albert Brenchley through George Hallett.

SUPPORT INFORMATION

Support typeArtefact » Container » Patera
MaterialBronze
Measuresl. 15.8, w. 7.4 (lower attachment), w. 2.8 (handle), wt 309.70 g
Decoration
Figurative subjectAnimal » Ram
      Part of animal bodyHead
Notes on support and decorationsHollow-cast copper alloy patera-handle in the form of a ribbed tube terminating in a ram’s head. It was originally secured to the wall of the vessel by four small rivets. This end of the handle ends in a pair of concentric mouldings, one partially decorated with beading; the chased decoration on the lower attachment possibly imitates parts of a grapevine.

ORIGIN AND PROVENANCE

Origin
Modern siteUnknown
Ancient siteUnknown
Geographical areaUnknown
CountryUnknown
Link to site record

NOTES

Proposed dating: 1st century BC - 2nd century AD.
Said to be from the Ḥaḍramawt.

CULTURAL NOTES

For comparison see: Byn 237-1; Byn 237-2; Byn 237-3 (Pavan 2009: 119-120).
Metal paterae or skillets with identical handles were produced in Italy in large numbers in the 1st century AD, but probably also elsewhere and later, as they are found in later contexts in the northwest provinces of the Roman empire. The shape was also imitated in carved stone and an alabaster example believed to be from Egypt was found in the storehouse at Begram. Metal patera handles of this type have also been found in 1st century graves at ed-Dur in south-east Arabia (Haerinck 2001: pls 94.26, 117, C.1).

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Simpson 2002: 136, cat. 169Simpson, St John (ed.) 2002. Queen of Sheba. Treasures from the ancient Yemen. London: British Museum Press. [Catalogue of an exhibition held at the British Museum, London]
Pavan 2009Pavan, Alexia 2009. Catalogue. Pages 113-127 in Alessandra Avanzini (ed.). Art and technique in Yemen. The bronzes from the Museum of Baynun. [Pontedera]: MBVision.
Haerinck 2001Haerinck, Ernie 2001. Excavations at ed-Dur (Umm al-Qaiwain, United Arab Emirates). Vol. 2: The Tombs.. Photographs Erik Smekens, With an appendix by Pamela Stone. Leuven: Peeters.