This handle would have once been attached to a
bronze vase that has been lost to us over the
centuries. In antiquity, bronze vessels were
among the most highly prized serving wares.
Due to their inherent expense and that fact that
bronze was once more valuable than gold, we
can safely assume that such a vase would have
been owned almost exclusively by the elite
upper classes of Hellenistic Greece. This handle
would have once been grasped in the hand of a
host or servant in order to dispense wine from
the body of the vessel it was once connected to.
Surely the dinner party must have been an
extravagant affair, with the finest foods and
libations served, matching the luxurious nature
of the vessels and serving dishes that decorated
the table.
- (DB.046)
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