A Late Roman silver plate with a bust of Hercules, mid-4th century A.D.

A Late Roman silver plate with a bust of Hercules, mid-4th century A.D.Silver plate with 11.2 mm wide base ring, 1 cm high, soldered to the bottom, made of 2 mm thick silver sheet. The plate wall is slightly curved and folded at the edge to form a hanging rim lip. On the edge there is a beaded border made of spherical humps approx. 6 mm wide that are driven out from below, with a space of 2 - 3 mm between the bumps. In the center of the plate an 11.6 cm wide medallion with a bust of Hercules. On the outside there is a 14 mm wide, slightly curved and gold-plated decorative border (kymation). Inside is the expressive, bearded face of the greatest of all Greek heroes with close-cropped, curly hair. A lion skin with knotted paws is placed around his muscular neck with two folds at the back of the neck. The internal structure of the fur is vividly represented by fine punches. The gaze is directed straight ahead. The forehead, nose, cheeks and mouth area are carefully modeled and convincingly portray a determined, strong-willed man marked by life. Behind his back protrudes a gnarled club made of olive wood, his favorite weapon, made by himself. Club and lion's fur gold-plated. Diameter 24.2 cm. Height 4.8 cm. Weight 580 g. Surface with gray, minimally mottled patina. A few minor, fine scratches and light impact marks on the base ring and on the edge, which in no way affect the overall impression.Extremely high-quality silversmith's product from late antiquity with stylization typical of this era and of great artistic quality.Provenance: From an Austrian private collection, acquired in the 1960s.Condition: I - II