Bronze situla (pail) attachment in the form of a Silenos head

Art Historical Context

This exquisite bronze attachment, depicting the head of Silenus from the Late Classical Greek period (4th century BCE), adorned a situla—a bucket-like vessel often used for ritual libations, cooling wine, or carrying water in ancient symposia. Measuring just 3 inches (7.6 cm) in height, its small scale belies its lively craftsmanship, acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of through the Rogers Fund in 7. Crafted in durable bronze, a premium medium prized for its ability to capture fine details through lost-wax casting, this piece exemplifies the technical prowess of Greek bronzeworkers, who ofte...