Greek Hellenistic Bronze Situla w/ Incised Circles

Ancient Greece, early Hellenistic Period, ca. late 4th to 3rd century BCE. A stunning cast-bronze situla (Latin for bucket or pail) of a tapering cylindrical form, set atop a ridged pad base decorated with incised concentric circles underneath. The flaring walls gradually expand toward a flat overhanging rim, and a stamped register of guilloche enclosed by two bands of petite circles embellishes the area beneath the rim. Thick layers of green, brown, and russet patina envelop most of the interior and exterior of the vessel, though scattered areas of the beautiful original golden-brown bronze coloration is still visible. The situla form was originally created for cooling and serving wine at banquets, though others were used to hold ashes or offerings to be buried in tombs. Without decorative handles, this example was perhaps made specifically for mourning the dead. Size: 9.25" Diameter x 9.75" H (23.5 cm x 24.8 cm).

Cf. Mary Comstock & Cornelius Vermeule. "Greek, Etruscan & Roman Bronzes in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston." Boston, 1971, pp. 338-339, cat. no. 477.

A stylistically-similar example with a pair of handles hammered for $28,800 at Christie's, New York Antiquities auction (sale 1531, June 8, 2005, lot 109): https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/a-greek-bronze-situla-hellenistic-period-circa-4505515-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=4505515&sid=1593f119-0a44-4701-adc5-e919740a52a4

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Richard Wagner collection, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA, acquired in the 1960s

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#143839
Condition Report: Large area of restoration to side of body, with resurfacing along new material. Slight bending to rim, minor abrasions and roughness to body, base, and rim, with some small pitting holes, and light encrustations. Nice earthen deposits as well as gorgeous green, russet, and brown patina throughout. Scattered areas of original bronze color are still visible.