Vessel Ornament of Banqueter

Description

This bronze banqueter figurine was one of six once adorning the rim of a large basin, now lost. Cast in molds with individualized details, most have grooves on their underside to attach to the basin. Minute traces of gilding remain on areas of clothing and skin (mostly visible only under magnification), suggesting that they may have been completely gilded. Two handles in the form of hippocampi, horses with serpentine tails, also belonged to the basin and are now displayed at the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University. The basin may have been used to hold liquid for a banquet, or was perhaps funerary.

This bronze figurine lies on his side in the posture of an ancient banqueter. His right arm is broken off but may once have rested on his hip. The figurine wears a garland on his head and a himation draped loosely around his left shoulder, revealing a muscular chest. One leg is raised over the other and a foot is exposed. Specks of gilding remain on the chest and head, but is different in color than that on the other five figurines. Also unlike the others, this one bears a visible seam across its entire length and has no groove underneath.

Provenance

Collection of the Marchese di Riofreddo e Gagliardi (?-1908); William R. Hearst, sold to Brummer Gallery (?-1943); Brummer Gallery, New York, NY, sold to H.K. Montif (1943-1949); H.K. Montif (1949-?); From the Ella Bache Brummer Collection, New York, NY, gifted to the Cleveland Museum of Art (?-1989); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1989-)

Vessel Ornament of Banqueter

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c. 400–375 BCE

Accession Number

1989.38

Medium

bronze

Dimensions

Overall: 5.1 x 1.8 cm (2 x 11/16 in.)

Classification

Sculpture

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

Gift of Mrs. Ernest Brummer