Roman Silver Ladle with Beast Finial. 1st-3rd century A.D. With broad bowl and in-turned rim, square-section long handle looped at the end with a beast-head finial; repaired and mounted on a custom-made display stand. Cf. Tassinari, S., La Vaisselle de Bronze, Romaine et Provinciale, au Musée des Antiquités Nationales, XXIXe supplément de Gallia, Paris, 1975, items 40-3. 70 grams, 22.5 cm (317 grams total, 25.5 cm including stand) (8 7/8 in. (10 in.)). (For this specific lot, 5% import VAT is applicable on the hammer price.)

Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

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