Lot 149, Auction 4/20/2026: Roman Silver Phiale Fortuna / Cybele Bust in Tondo

$5,850.00

In stock

Roman, Imperial period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A refined Roman silver phiale centered by a repoussé bust of a mural crowned goddess, identified as either Fortuna or Cybele, both powerful embodiments of protection, prosperity, and the ordering forces of the Roman world. Elegant in form yet rich in symbolic weight, the vessel draws the eye inward, where image and ritual converge. The phiale is hammered from a sheet of silver, forming a broad, shallow bowl whose interior surface gently slopes toward a raised central medallion. Within this medallion appears a half length female figure rendered in crisp relief. She faces forward with a composed, solemn expression, her features idealized yet approachable. The mural crown she wears, articulated with crenellated battlements, signifies dominion over cities and the safeguarding of communal life. Size: 7.2″ L x 6.9″ W x 2.3″ H (18.3 cm x 17.5 cm x 5.8 cm); silver quality: 96.3%; weight: 219.3 grams

Such crowns were closely associated with both Fortuna, goddess of fate and civic fortune, and Cybele, the great mother deity and protector of cities and states.

Her hair is arranged beneath the crown in softly modeled waves, and she is draped in a robe whose carefully worked folds fall across the shoulders and chest, lending the figure a sense of gravity and restraint. The surrounding silver surface retains subtle hammer marks and tonal variations, creating a softly mottled field that enhances the sculptural presence of the central image. A small ancient repair at the rim bears witness to the vessel’s prolonged use and valued status in antiquity.

Phialai of this type were employed in ritual contexts for libations, offerings of wine, oil, or other liquids poured in religious or ceremonial acts. In the Roman world, such vessels bridged private devotion and public ritual, and the selection of Fortuna or Cybele as the focal image underscores concerns with stability, abundance, and divine favor during an era shaped by political ambition and uncertainty.

The ambiguity between Fortuna and Cybele is itself meaningful, reflecting the overlapping identities of Roman deities and the fluidity of religious iconography across regions and periods. Both goddesses embodied forces that governed the success of cities and individuals alike, making either identification appropriate for a vessel intended to mediate between human action and divine will.

This silver phiale stands as a compelling example of Roman religious metalwork, combining technical skill, restrained elegance, and potent symbolism. It offers a tangible glimpse into the ritual life of the Roman Empire, where silver vessels carried not only libations, but hopes for protection, fortune, and enduring order.

Condition: Old repair to small area of rim and two minuscule fissures to rim in other areas. Some light bending to walls, as well as weathering and abrasions commensurate with age. Cleaned in modern times. Otherwise, very nice presentation with good remaining detail and light patina in areas.

Provenance: private London, UK collection; ex-Robert Ungar, London, UK collection, acquired in the 1990s

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