Cleveland Museum of Art

Vessel Ornament of Banqueter

Date

probably 400–375 BCE

Medium

bronze

Culture

Etruscan

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

This bronze banqueter figurine was one of six once adorning the rim of a large basin, now lost. Cast in molds with individualized details, most have grooves on their underside to attach to the basin. Minute traces of gilding remain on areas of clothing and skin (mostly visible only under magnification), suggesting that they may have been completely gilded. Two handles in the form of hippocampi, horses with serpentine tails, also belonged to the basin and are now displayed at the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University. The basin may have been used to hold liquid for a banquet, or was perhaps funerary. This reclining bronze figurine’s left arm rests on the drapery covering his shoulder. His right arm is raised and broken at the wrist. Garlands rest on his head and chest. Traces of gilding remain in the garlands and drapery folds. The figurine is very similar to 1987.157 , suggesting that he may have held a phiale mesomphalos , a shallow bowl used for wine libations to the gods. Representations like this figurine suggest that Etruscan banqueters may have worn garlands made of flowers or leaves.

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