Ancient Roman Bronze Actor's Mask Amphora Handle - 15.2×1×10.1 cm

Ancient Roman bronze handle from a drinking cup or other such vessel, terminating below in the form of an actor's mask with typical open mouth. The hair is finely detailed, the eyes deeply recessed. A rare and stunning example. NB. Not supplied with stand. Very Fine condition with beautiful pale green patina. Height 10. 1 cms (4 ins) . Length 15. 2 cms (6 ins) . Masks were one of the central conventions used in Ancient Roman Plays and the Roman Theatre. The masks were full head masks, so an actor's entire head was covered by his mask. The designs of the mask were quite simple and were made from cheap materials such as linen or cork. The masks were large and had big holes for the mouth and the eyes. They would have portrayed exaggerated expressions which could be seen from the back of the theatre so the audience could tell how the character was feeling and the mask conveyed simple emotions in its expression such as happiness, sadness, regret, or fear. They were also colour coded, brown for men and white for women. Provenance - Purchased from a Sussex Gallery in 2000s, previously in a collection of a London collector specializing in Roman antiquity since 1980s. COA included. The Seller can prove that the lot was obtained legally , provenance statement seen by Catawiki. Important information. The seller guarantees that he is entitled to ship this lot. The seller will take care that any necessary permits will be arranged. The seller will inform the buyer about this if this takes more than a few days.