Silver bowl
Other dimensions: foot height - 3.5 mm; silver sheet thickness - 1.5 mm.
Blows have deformed, cut, and broken this vase. It is a circular, concave cup with a short stem and a thickened lip. The foot and the actual bowl were made separately and then welded together.
The ring foot has a flat base; in the middle of it is a discoid protuberance with a small metallic grain at its centre, probably a residue from the casting. The discoid protuberance is surrounded by a groove, a low-relief circular line, and an incised line.
The cup has a straight lip that is thickened on the outside; inside the vase, a circular line is incised below the lip. On the outside, the vase features a geometric decoration. About 1 mm below the lip, a circular incision marks the upper part of a narrow, slightly convex band, while another incision indicates its lower part. Next, a wide groove follows, which is also defined at its lower part. Finally, after a narrow line in very low relief, the actual decoration is revealed. This decoration consists of small vertical flutes ("wrinkles") on the body of the vase, which fan out from an area marked by two circular incisions near the base. Starting at their lower part, these flutes gradually widen as they approach the mouth of the vase. Executed in repoussé, by hammering, the 140 flutes exhibit slight differences in dimensions among them. The decorative effect is cleverly calculated, considering the alternation of the reliefs first horizontally (relief band – flutes) and then vertically (the flutes between them).
The excellent craftsmanship of the piece, combined with its artistic qualities, leads us to attribute its origin to an area with favourable traditions. Similar vases have been unearthed in Chaource (Aisne) and Rute (Gotland), both dated to the 2nd century AD, although it is now believed that fluting became fashionable for the decoration of silver Roman vases only in the 3rd century. The parallel and sinuous flutes – or strigils – will also persist in late Roman toreutics and early Byzantine toreutics, as evidenced by the oenochoes from Pietroasa and Tauteni. However, this vase may be dated in the 2nd century based on its shape, decoration, and the comparisons it allows. We can't say for sure where it came from, but since the other treasure pieces are from the empire's western provinces, this one likely is too.
Quantity
1
Weight
181 g
Width
4.1 cm
Diameter
9.5 cm
Comment
Inv.no. 4514
Material
Silver
Hoard
