Late 2nd century AD. A bronze situla with flat bottom, the convex basin at the base becoming cylindrical, slightly flared at the mouth; the vessel is complete with the handle (ansa), ornamented with a decorative pattern of alternated triangles inscribed in a band all around the upper cylindrical part. Cf. Tassinari, S., La Vaisselle de Bronze, Romaine et Provinciale, au Mysée des Antiquités Nationales, XXIXe supplément de Gallia, Paris, 1975, items 117, 123-124; Boucher, S. & Tassinari, S., Musée de la Civilisation Gallo-Romaine à Lyon: Bronzes Antiques. Tome 1 Inscriptions, Statuaire, Vaisselle, Paris, 1976, figs.148-150. 113 grams,10cm (4"). From the private collection of Antony John Scammell (1937-2019); acquired from Artemission, London, UK, in 2011; accompanied by the original certificate of authenticity. Situla (plural situlae), from the Latin word for bucket or pail, is the term in archaeology and art history for a variety of elaborate bucket-shaped vessels from the Iron Age to the Middle Ages, usually with a handle at the top. All types may be highly decorated, most characteristically with reliefs in bands or friezes running round the vessel. Roman styles favoured a simple shape curving from the base, becoming vertical at the top, with a wide mouth and no shoulder, but sometimes a projecting rim. These had a variety of uses, including for washing and bathing. Any decoration was often concentrated on the upper part of the sides. Antony John Scammell (1937-2019) was born, and lived his entire life, in the city of Bristol, England. Already from an early age he was enthralled by history and the heroes that it created. While serving overseas with the British Army, Antony began collecting coins and banknotes and this led to collecting a variety of different items throughout his life. From the early 1960s onward, Antony invested in acquiring ancient artefacts. Antony's vast collections started with Egyptian antiquities, but soon branched into Greek and Roman civilisations. The Roman civilisation fascinated him most and, when family commitments allowed, archaeological digs were coordinated in the west of England. These digs uncovered numerous artefacts, many of which were donated to local museums. In retirement, the collecting continued apace, branching into UK coins, British Empire banknotes and fossils.