Ladle

Ladle

Bronze

An elegant bronze ladle (kyathos) with a low round bowl and elongated flat strap handle that rises vertically from the bowl rim, bends over at the top in a tight curve and is formed into a duck head at its end. This type of ladle with animal head handle was popular in Greece and Etruria. Examples with the handle ending in two animal heads are also found along with similar ladles that have deeper bowls. In this piece, the width of the handle is more or less the same for most of its length, flaring slightly before it joins the bowl and also towards its top, shortly before it bends over, so that wings are formed on either side. Above the wings, the handle is narrower and continues to taper slightly. Circular marks are visible on the interior of the bowl and there is a small round depression in the centre of the base of the bowl, on its outer surface, probably caused by a pointed tool used to hold the bowl in place while it was polished. Short sections of the square bowl rim have been cut and raised on each side, forming small spurs that curve back towards the handle. They probably enabled the ladle to be hooked onto a vessel rim, allowing drainage of its contents. The ladle is dark red-brown in colour and is in excellent condition. Function: Used to ladle small quantities of liquid, perhaps oil. Decoration: A) Grooves run along the edges of the outside surface of the handle, commencing at the flaring wings, running down to the bowl and continuing around the outer surface of the rim until they reach the upturned rests. B) The duck head is simplified in shape, and roughly formed. It ends in a long beak that curves upwards. A large left eye is indicated by an oval depression on that side with a more rudimentary eye on the right side of the head.

Hellenistic Greek

Gift of Mr. G. D. Story, Brisbane, 1992.

300 - 200 BC

92.005

Gift of Mr G Story, Brisbane, 1992.
Part of the Gordon Story Collection of Ancient Artefacts, Brisbane, before 1982.