Antiquities,ancient Roman allegorical wine drinking vessel

R27

Roman allegorical wine drinking vessel

£400

An elaborately moulded hollow pottery vessel decorated to either side with a large face.

One side is moulded with a young rounded face wearing vine leaves and clusters of grapes in his hair. The other side is moulded with a more mature face with a moustache, oddly-shaped ears and a more sinister complexion.

Both depictions suggest a strong link to wine: the younger head probably being a depiction of the young Bacchus, and the other possibly representing a satyr. The vessel could be interpreted as an allegorical message: drink the produce of the innocent-looking merry Bacchus and the opposite/darker side of humankind is revealed.

Egypt, Roman period, 1st or 2nd Century AD

Fragmentary as shown in the photographs. The moulded details are a little finer and clearer than suggested by the images.

Size: 8.5 x 7 cms

Ex Private Collection, UK.

www.heliosgallery.com

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