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 banqueter tilts his head toward his left hand, which may have once held an object, now lost. His right arm rests on his hip. Unlike the other banqueters, this figurine does not have exposed feet and his body curves slightly when viewed from above. This suggests that this figurine may have been made for a different initial use before being added to this set. The Etruscan banquet shared similarities with the Greek symposium where guests reclined and drank wine.

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