Ca. 1st century AD. A beautiful silver patera comprising a deep body with gently sloping sides, a rounded rim, and a protruding, flaring handle terminating with pointed finials. The patera is crafted from high-grade silver, with a lustrous surface that reflects light in a mesmerizing manner. The handle of the dish is adorned with intricate engravings of mythological scenes, depicting a large amphora with tendrils coming out of it, below there is the head of Dionysus, flanked by six-petaled flowers and further bird heads. The interior, on the other hand, is smooth and accentuates the silver's natural beauty. In the Roman world, pateras were used for various purposes, ranging from religious ceremonies to everyday household tasks. Pateras were commonly used in the ritual of libation, where wine or other offerings were poured out to honor the gods. The shallow dish's unique shape and wide base made it ideal for this purpose, allowing the liquid to be poured out evenly and without spilling. For a similar, see Christie's, Live Auction 2565, Antiquities, 8 June 2012, Lot 199.Size: L:80mm / W:240mm ; 360gProvenance: Property of European collector Marcus Prill, Belgium, 2001.