Statue of a woman with a Patera

myminifactory

This ancient artifact is a replica of an original work from 4th century BC Greece. The head and bust were added during the Renaissance as separate elements. Its history begins with Federico Contarini in 1596. In classical antiquity's material culture, a phiale or patera was a small libation bowl made from ceramic or metal. It often featured a bulbous indentation on its underside to make it easier to hold. This type of phiale is known as mesomphalic when this feature is present. Typically, these bowls do not have handles and are footless. A drinking cup with handles is a kylix, while a circular platter with C-handles is not considered a patera, although some may have one long straight handle. The terms phiale and patera can be used interchangeably, especially in Etruscan culture, but phiale is more commonly associated with Greek forms and patera with Roman settings.