979 - Bronze bowl with a frieze of aquatic animals on the outer wall, Early Byzantine, 6th–7th centuries.

Bronze bowl with a frieze of aquatic animals on the outer wall, Early Byzantine, 6th–7th centuries. Spherical, thick-walled bronze bowl with a rim approximately 1 cm high, the wall of which curves slightly outward; a centering hole is located in the center of the bottom. The interior of the bowl also features a center hole as well as concentric turning grooves, which indicate that the interior of the cast blank was finished on a lathe. The rim of the vessel is indented inward only on the exterior. Between the rim and the edge runs a continuous frieze of animals in high relief. Mostly fish and other marine creatures, but also amphibians and waterfowl. The technical characteristics clearly identify the piece as a late antique vessel belonging to the Early Byzantine period, which, like many other Early Byzantine works of art, incorporates and once again celebrates motifs from classical antiquity or the High Imperial period. Minimal chips and corrosion; small casting defects inside the bowl; otherwise intact. A label with the previous owner’s collection number is affixed to the inner rim. Diameter: 11.7 cm. Height: 4.7 cm. An exceptionally charming testament to the continuity of ancient imagery in the arts and crafts of the Early Byzantine period. CULTURAL HERITAGE! Provenance: Acquired by the current owner from Gorny & Mosch, Auction 287 in July 2022, Lot 821; previously from the Bavarian private collection of H. V., acquired between 1974 and 2010. Condition: II–III